Ivermectin and the soil microbiome
Ivermectin is a commonly-used parasiticide to control livestock nematodes and arthropods (Campbell et al., 1983). Treated animals faecally excrete at least 80% of the drug, and these residues have adverse effects on non-target insects dwelling in dung. However, its effect on soil organisms beneath the dung, particularly soil microorganisms, has scarcely been studied because ivermectin was believed to have no antibacterial or antifungal properties.