Efficacy of ivermectin in controlling Strongyloides westeri infections in foals

Twenty-eight foals whose dams were treated IM with ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg of body weight) on the day of parturition were compared with 35 foals whose dams were administered only the vehicle. The effect of ivermectin on the vertical transmission of Strongyloides westeri and foal heat diarrhea was determined by a comparison of results obtained in the 2 groups. Foals from treated mares had significantly fewer S westeri eggs per gram of feces from 17 to 28 days postpartum. There were no differences observed in the frequencies of severity of foal heat diarrhea between the treated and control groups. In another experiment, using the same foals, 32 foals were treated IM with ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg) at 21 days of age and were compared with 31 foals administered only the vehicle. Significantly fewer S westeri eggs were recovered from the ivermectin-treated foals on day 26 to day 32, the completion day of the trial.