Therapeutic Efficacy of Ivermectin against Thelaziasis in Cattle

Background: Thelazia species are arthropod-borne nemathelminths causing thelaziasis of eyes in various domestic animals and humans. The adult and larval stages of Thelazia spp. are responsible for eye disease. The treatment of ocular thelaziasis includes topical or parenteral introduction of 1% moxidectin, 10% imidacloprid along with levamisole and ivermectin in the infected animal. Methods: Sixty-two cattle were randomly divided into two groups of 31 each. The group I was administered with ivermectin at 200 mcg/kg body weight subcutaneously whereas group II was subjected to mechanically removal of worms from the eyes Result: The treatment with ivermectin showed high therapeutic efficacy of up to 87.1% as compared to 16.67% in mechanical removal of worms.