Field experiment on levamisole against certain helminths in pigs, with emphasis on test of activity against lungworms
Lindquist, W.D.; Leland, S.E.; Ridley, R.K.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 32(8): 1301-1304
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 5105889 Document Number: 37418
The l-isomer was given as the HCl salt in the feed of 15 pigs, and as a drench powder in the water of 17 pigs. It was readily accepted. The pigs were six months old and severely parasitized, despite worming with piperazine; many weighed less than 45 kg. Weight gains during eight weeks were significantly improved by both forms of medication. Rectal egg counts decreased after a week, and remained low while lungworms were often expelled in vomitus about 15 min. after dosing. This is probably a reflex due to migration of worms out of the respiratory system. Control animals had high Ascaris egg counts, but these fell after the third week, possibly due to spontaneous expulsion. P.M. examinations performed in the first three weeks showed that control animals had few adult Ascaris worms, but a fairly high burden of Metastrongylus and strongyles (Oesophagostomum), while medicated pigs had very few worms.