Original Research

A field study on the efficacy of ivermectin via subcutaneous route against chewing lice (Bovicola caprae) infestation in naturally infested goats

Y. Ajith, Umesh Dimri, A. Gopalakrishnan, Gopinath Devi
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | Vol 86, No 1 | a1635 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v86i1.1635 | © 2019 Y. Ajith, Umesh Dimri, A. Gopalakrishnan, Gopinath Devi | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 21 March 2018 | Published: 30 January 2019

About the author(s)

Y. Ajith, Division of Medicine, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India
Umesh Dimri, Division of Medicine, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India
A. Gopalakrishnan, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, India
Gopinath Devi, Department of Veterinary Medicine, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

Abstract

Caprine pediculosis is an ectoparasitic disease of great concern among goat farmers in India. It may be caused by either sucking lice or chewing lice; the latter one results in severe skin lesions, leading to production loss. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the macrocytic lactone drug, ivermectin, administered via subcutaneous injection, against chewing lice Bovicola (Damalinia) caprae infestation in naturally infested goats. The study was conducted on 20 goats with severe B. caprae infestation. Animals of group A (n = 10) were treated using a single dose of ivermectin (200 µg/kg body weight) subcutaneously and animals of group B (n = 10) underwent placebo therapy using normal saline. The animals were examined on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 and 56 for lice counts. There was 100% elimination of lice in all animals of group A and effective protection from re-infection remained at least for 21 days. Considerable improvement in haematological parameters was also observed by day 21. Based on this study, ivermectin injected via a subcutaneous route can be used effectively for the therapeutic and prophylactic management of chewing lice infestation in goats maintained under an extensive grazing system.

Keywords

caprine; chewing lice; ivermectin; pediculosis; subcutaneous route

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