EFFICACY OF MOXIDECTIN INJECTABLE (CYDECT IN INJ) AGAINST MIXED PSOROPTES OVIS AND SARCOPTES OVIS MANGE IN SHEEP

Field efficacy of moxidectin injectable was evaluated in sheep natural ly infected with both Psoroptes ovis and Sarcoptes ovis mange. Three g roups of fifteen ewes were selected from the flock based on parasitolo gical and clinical status. Group 1 remained as untreated controls. Gro up 2 animals received a subcutaneous injection of moxidectin at 0.2 mg /kg body weight on Day 0; Group 3 animals received 0.2 mg/kg moxidecti n twice on Day 0 and Day 7. Efficacy was assesed by taking skin scrapi ngs from each animal on Days -4, 0, 7, 14, 28 and 35 post treatment (P .T.) and counting viable mite stages and species. In both treated grou ps the signs of itching disappeared within seven days P.T. Rapid clini cal improvement was associated with reduction in numbers of mites comp ared with initial score which was over 90%. However, in skin scrapings on Day 7 P.T. several live mites of both species were present. The se cond injection of moxidectin removed all living mites and skin scrapin gs from group 3 animals that were negative for all mites on days 14, 2 8 and 35. The weight gain on average in group 2 was 2.0 kg and in grou p 3 2.7 kg, during the 35 days of trial. Untreated control animals hav e lost on average 3.1 kg from the weight at start of trial. All untrea ted animals remained positive and suffered from intensive scratching, anorexia and moist active skin lesions. Therefore they were given an e mergency moxidectin treatment on days 35 and 37 each animal receiving 0.2 mg/kg b.w., subcutanoeusly. Moxidectin in both tested doses was we ll tolerated and no local reaction on injection sites was observed.