INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE PREVENTION OF NEONATAL TOXOCARA-CANIS INFECTIONS IN PUPPIES BY APPLICATION OF DORAMECTIN TO THE BITCH

The aim of this investigation was to examine whether the treatment of bitches with doramectin is able to prevent pre-natal and galactogenic infections with Toxocara canis in their pups. Five experimentally infe cted beagle bitches were treated subcutaneously with 1 mg doramectin p er kg body weight on each of days 40 and 55 of their pregnancy. Anothe r infected bitch served as an untreated control. The efficacy of the m edication was examined by counting the intestinal stages and somatic l arvae in bitches and pups. The treatment did not completely prevent pe rinatal infections with T. canis. Intestinal stages and/or somatic lar vae occurred in 16 of 20 pups. Seven pups developed patent infections. Compared to the control pups, the average worm burden (intestinal sta ges) of pups from treated bitches was less than 1 %. No impairment of condition or physical development was noticed in the pups during the i nvestigations. From the second week of life, the pups of the non-medic ated bitch showed signs of a severe toxocarosis. No side effects were seen in the bitches after treatment with doramectin.