Effectiveness of eprinomectin pour-on against gastrointestinal nematodes of naturally infected goats

A field trial was conducted in southern Italy to assess the effectiveness of eprinomectin applied topically at the cattle dose rate of 500 mug/kg and at the double dose of 1000 mug/kg body weight to goats with naturally occurring infections of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). The nematode populations consisted of Teladorsagia circumcincta, Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, and Oesophagostomum venulosum, as determined by sentinel necropsy. Seventy-five lactating goats were assigned to the following treatment groups of 25 animals each: an eprinomectin single dose treated group (El-group), an eprinomectin double dose treated group (E2-group), and an untreated control group (C-group). The percentage reductions in faecal egg counts for the E1-group compared to concurrent C-group levels were 90.0% on day 7, 91.6% on day 14, 89.4% on day 21, and 87.0% on day 28. The percentage reductions in faecal egg counts for the E2-group compared to concurrent C-group levels were 99.5% on day 7, 99.6% on day 14, 99.7% on day 21, and 96.7% on day 28. Differences between groups were statistically significant. The results of the present study indicate twice the cattle dose of eprinomectin is necessary for equivalent effects in goats. In addition, in the course of the trial, the eprinomectin formulation was well tolerated by all the treated animals with no adverse reactions to treatment noted. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.