A pilot study of the efficacy of topical ivermectin against lungworm in young red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Abstract

Three groups of ten 4-month-old red deer (Cervus eluphus) calves naturally infected with lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus) were treated with either oral ivermectin (200 μg/kg), topical (“pour-on”) ivermectin (500 μg/kg) or oral oxfendazole (5 mg/kg). Faecal larval counts for ltingworin were undetectable or very low for 14 days after treatment with oxfendazole, 28 days after treatment with. oral ivermectin and for 49 days after treatment with topical ivermectin. This pilot study suggests that the topical formulation of iverm,ectin was very effective against lungworm and had a more persistent action than the oral ivermectin formulation in young red deer. (New Zealand Veterinary Journal 38, 112–113, 1990)