Preventing transmission of sarcoptic mange from sows to their offspring by injection of ivermectin. Effects on swine production.
A blind and controlled field study was conducted on a pig farm in Australia to evaluate the activity of 1% ivermectin solution when injected into pregnant sows that were naturally infested with mites. The study was designed to appreciate the tolerance of the product on sows (litter size, litter birth weights, litter weaning weights, pre-weaning mortality) and to show the effects of sarcoptic mange on the growth performances of their offspring. Twenty sows were selected and ranked on Day-10, prior to the start of the study, on the basis of positive mite counts and parity. Sows were randomly allocated into two groups, A and B. On Day-7, they were injected once with product A (1 ml/33 kg; yielding 300 microg ivermectin/kg BW) or product B (placebo), respectively and then moved to the farrowing unit. Mite counts, ear and body lesions were scored and recorded. The average daily weight gain (ADG) was calculated on piglets from birth to Day-45 (ADG(45)) and birth to Day-70 (ADG(70)). Ivermectin was 100% efficient in preventing the transmission of scabies mites and did not have negative effect on the pregnant sows. Growth performances (ADG(45) and ADG(70)) of piglets from treated sows were significantly higher (452 and 541.5 g per day) than that from untreated sows (433.5 and 518.4 g per day) respectively, confirming that sarcoptic mange is detrimental to the production performances of growing pigs.
Mercier
P
P
Virbac Laboratories, Medical Department, BP 27, Carros Cedex 06511, France. pmercier@virbac.fr
Cargill
C F
CF
White
C R
CR
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001724:Birth Weight; D004423:Ear / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008098:Litter Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D012520:Sarcoptes scabiei; D012532:Scabies / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D013021:South Australia; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission
D007559:Ivermectin