Evaluation of the reaction of sheep during or after injection with moxidectin 1% injectable solution

Three hundred ewes were allocated into one of three groups; ewes in group A (n=100) were injected with 1 mi moxidectin 1% injectable solution, those i n group B (n=100) with 1 mi ivermectin 1% injectable solution and those in group C (n=100) with 1 mi phosphate-buffer-saline. Reactions of ewes were a ssessed during insertion of the needle, during injection of the product and after injection of the product; they were classified into one of four scor es. In group B, 1 1 ewes reacted during insertion of the needle, 28 during injection of the product and 35 after (p>0.01). Respective numbers in group A were 10, 4 and 1 and in group C 9, 1 and 1 ewes (p<0.01). Mean reaction scores of group B ewes were 0.12 during insertion of the needle, 0.38 durin g injection of the product, 0.50 after injection; respective scores in grou p A ewes were 0.12, 0.05 and 0.01 and in group C ewes 0.09, 0.01 and 0.01 ( p<0.01). The findings indicate that moxidectin 1% injectable solution does not cause significant pain to sheep. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.