EFFICACY OF IVERMECTIN (POUR ON FORMULATION) AGAINST ECTOPARASITES IN SHEEP

The research has been carried out from February to March 2005 on 20 sheep (infested and non infested with ectoparasites) of both sexes aged upto 3 to 4 years at the animal house of Veterinary Clinic, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to study the efficacy of ivermectin pour on (Ivermec® Pour on, Ethical Drugs Ltd., Dhaka, Bangladesh) against ectoparasites and its effect on certain haematological (Hb, TEC and PCV) parameters and body weight gain. Fifteen sheep heavily infested with different ectoparasites were randomly divided into 3 equal groups (groups B, C and D) consisting of 5 sheep in each. Another 5 sheep free from any ectoparasitic infestation were kept as uninfested control group (group A). Topical ivermectin preparation was administered at the dose rate of 400 μg/kg body weight (pour on) and 500 μg/kg body weight (pour on) in groups C and D respectively whereas sheep of group B was kept as infested control. The therapeutic efficacy of ivermectin was 100% against ectoparasites (lice and tick) after 7 days of treatment. The mean body weight of the sheep of treated groups (C and D) were increased after treatment with ivermectin, on day 28 post treatment. Similarly, total erythrocyte count (TEC) and hemoglobin (Hb) content was increased significantly. However, PCV was also influenced appreciably. From this experiment, it may be suggested that ivermectin is a very much suitable broad spectrum anthelmintic for sheep and its pour on formulation may be used effectively and conveniently to treat ectoparasitic infestations.