Ivermectin treatment of ascarids in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)
Meredith, A.L.; Beasey, A.
Veterinary Record 129(11): 241-242
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 1957461 Document Number: 369683
The efficacy of ivermectin was studied in 13 cheetahs (aged between 2 months and 12 years), at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, UK, and naturally infected with Toxocara cati and Toxascaris leonina. Individual faecal samples were obtained from 7 singly housed mature animals, and pooled samples from 2 immature siblings (10 months old) housed together. Adult cheetahs were injected by means of a dart gun, with ivermectin (200 micro g/kg bwt). The cubs were injected sc at the same dose rate, and were re-treated 20 and 52 days later. All the faeces present in the enclosures were collected daily from 2 days before treatment until day 8 following treatment, and then weekly until day 77. All the adult cheetahs shed eggs of both Toxocara cati and Toxascaris leonina but had higher counts of the latter. Only Toxascaris leonina eggs were found in the faeces of the siblings, whereas most of the eggs shed by the cubs were of Toxocara cati. Faecal egg count had decreased to zero in all the cheetahs by days 7 and 8. Eggs of Toxascaris leonina were next seen in 2 animals on day 56 and those of Toxocara cati on day 70. By day 77 all the animals were positive for one or both parasites. It is concluded that this dose of ivermectin (200 micro g/kg bwt) completely eliminated the ascarids in the cheetahs, which then subsequently became reinfected, suggesting a short persistence of ivermectin in the animals.