Anthelmintic activity of ivermectin against immature gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep

Twenty-four lambs of mixed breeding with mixed experimental infections of Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia circumcincta, Trichostrongylus axei, and T colubriformis were allotted to 4 groups. One group (control) was given the vehicle propylene glycol, and the others were given 100, 200, or 300 micrograms of ivermectin/kg of body weight by mouth. Twelve days after treatment, the sheep were necropsied. The compound was greater than 99% effective against immature stages of 4 nematode species at all dosages, except at the 100 micrograms/kg dosage, where efficacy was 96% against H contortus.