Evaluation of the safety of ivermectin-praziquantel administered orally to pregnant mares

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of an orally administered ivermectin and praziquantel paste with regard to variables associated with clinical findings, parturition, lactation, maternal care, and neonate viability in pregnant mares. ANIMALS: 40 pregnant mares. PROCEDURE: Mares were randomly allocated into treatment (n = 20) and control (20) groups and administered a placebo or 3 times the therapeutic dosage of ivermectin (0.6 mg/kg) and praziquantel (4.5 mg/kg) at 14-day intervals until parturition. Physical examinations were performed on mares and their foals after parturition (on postpartum days 30, 60, and 90) to identify any drug-related effects. As an aid in assessing general health, hematologic and serum biochemical analyses were performed monthly on the mares. RESULTS: In blood constituents, minor alterations that were not biologically important were observed. Reproductive performance was not affected by the unusual treatment duration or high dosage, although the drugs were administered during a crucial period of equine embryonic development (30 to 60 days). Neither adverse effects on mares nor abortions occurred. Follow-up evaluations of the foals for a 3-month period did not detect any abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of the ivermectin-praziquantel paste appears to be safe in pregnant mares and their foals.