Efficacy of moxidectin against sarcoptic mange and effects on milk yield of ewes and growth of lambs

Forty-eight dairy ewes and 45 lambs naturally infested with sarcoptic mange , were divided into three equal groups and treated with moxidectin 1% inj. sol. at a dose rate of 0.2 mg moxidectin kg(-1) bodyweight once or twice te n days apart. During the study, the skin lesions were scored and the number of mites recovered in facial skin scrapings from the animals were recorded . Moxidectin was found to be effective against ovine sarcoptic mange, when given twice; the percentage reduction of mites was 100% (p < 0.0001) and th e skin lesions disappeared completely (p = 0.0001). In sheep treated once o nly, the percentage reduction of mites varied from 75% to 92%. Treated ewes produced up to 22.4% more milk than the infested ones (p = 0.0001). Treate d lambs had up to 15% greater final weight and up to 23.7% more growth than infested controls (p = 0.0001). It is concluded that two injections of mox idectin 1% inj. sol. at a dose rate of 0.2 mg kg(-1) bodyweight, given ten days apart, were effective against ovine sarcoptic mange. Furthermore, it i s considered that sarcoptic mange adversely affects the production of the i nfested animals. (C)2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.