A note on ivermectin and clorsulon treatment of cattle infested with subcutaneous parasites.

INTRODUCTION Subcutaneous parasitic infestation in cattle in India and abroad is caused by certain arthropods of the Hypoderma and Dermatobia species and filaroid nematodes of Parafilaria, Stephanofilaria and Onchocerca species which are transmitted by hematophagus vectors. The affected animals do not show any marked clinical signs until larvae appear along the body coat and nodular or soft fluctuating painful swellings develop under skin at neck, brisket or shoulders and dorsal aspect of the body. Subcutaneous parasitism inflicts great economic losses to cattle owners by causing reduction in milk production (up to 10 to 20%), loss of body condition, depreciation of value of meat and hide or even mortality in certain cases due to migration of larvae to vital organs (Soulsby, 1986). The present communication reports satisfactory treatment of non-specific subcutaneous parasitic infestation in cattle. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seven crossbred cows, aged between 4 to 7 yrs, exhibited clinical signs suggestive of subcutaneous parasitic infestation. A single subcutaneous injection at a dose of 1ml/50 kg live weight was given aseptically by inserting a 16 gauge needle in loose skin in front of shoulder. This provided a dose level of 0.2mg ivermectin and 2mg clorsulon per kg bodyweight. Two days later, phenylbutazone @ 20mg/kg bodyweight was administered daily (IM) for four days. All animals were kept under close observation for two weeks.