EFFICACY OF IVERMECTIN AGAINST GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODIASIS AND ECTOPARASITES IN CROSSBRED CATTLE IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to determine the efficacy of Ivermectin (Ivomec® S/C Formulation) against gastrointestinal nematodiasis and ectoparasites including stephanofilaria on crossbred cattle, to determine the effect of drug on certain hematological parameters like hemoglobin (Hb) content, packed cell volume (PCV) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)in crossbred cattle and to determine the effect of the drug on live weight. A total of 100 cattle were selected randomly and examined for presence of both endo and ectoparasites including stephanofilaria. Gastrointestinal nematodiasis were detected by examination of fecal samples and ectoparasites as well as stephanofilaria were detected by physical examination. Out of 100 cattle, 20 were found to suffer from both endo and ectoparasites. These 20 cattle were selected finally for the research work. Then these cattle were divided into two groups, group A (treated group, n=15) and group B (control group, n=5). Ivermectin was injected subcutaneously to the cattle of group A @ 200µm/kg body weight (1ml/50 kg body weight). The therapeutic efficacy of the drug against gastrointestinal nematodiasis was determined by investigation of fecal egg count reduction and the efficacy was 100% against the common nematodes in crossbred cattle on day 7, 14, 21 and 28 of post treatment period. Ticks within a markable area (25 square inches) were counted on day 0 and lice infestation was marked as infected on day 0. Ivermectin showed 100% effectiveness at the 7, 14, 21 and 28 day of post treatment period against both tick and lice infestation. The efficacy of the drug against stephanofilariasis (humpsore) was determined by reduction of diameter of the sore on the day 14, 42 and 56 of post treatment period. All the sores were completely healed up by the 56 days. During the study of hematological parameters it was seen that Hb and PCV were increased whereas ESR values were decreased on post treatment days. In this study the mean live weight of the cattle of treated group was increased after treatment with ivermectin and increased body weight was 5.13% on the 28th day of post treatment period. From the above findings it may be concluded that ivermectin was 100% effective against gastrointestinal nematodes common in crossbred cattle. Effectiveness of the drug against external parasites was 100%. In this study hematological parameters were changed significantly after treatment with ivermectin, body weight of animal treated with ivermectin was increased and no adverse effect of the drug was found in this study.