Prophylactic efficacy of an ivermectin sustained-release bolus against challenge exposure with gastrointestinal and pulmonary nematode infective larvae in calves

Twelve Holstein calves were used to determine the prophylactic efficacy of ivermectin against challenge exposure with gastrointestinal and pulmonary nematodes. Two groups of 6 calves (mean body weight, 205 kg) each were formed by restricted randomization according to body weight. Group-1 calves served as nonmedicated controls. Each calf of group 2 was orally given one prototype sustained-release bolus designed to deliver ivermectin at a continuous daily dose of 8 mg. Third-stage nematode infective larvae were given to the calves on posttreatment days 28 and 42. The calves were euthanatized 77 or 78 days after treatment. Ivermectin was 100% effective (P less than 0.05) in preventing the establishment of infection by Haemonchus placei, Ostertagia ostertagi, Cooperia spp (C punctata, C oncophora, C surnabada), Nematodirus helvetianus, Oesophagostomum radiatum, and Dictyocaulus viviparus and was greater than 99% effective against Trichostrongylus axei. Incidental infection by Trichuris spp was reduced by 94% (P = 0.08).