Evaluation of the safety of ivermectin-praziquantel administered orally to pregnant mares.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety of an orally administered ivermectin and praziquantel paste with regard to variables associated with clinical findings, parturition, lactation, maternal care, and neonate viability in pregnant mares.

ANIMALS

40 pregnant mares.

PROCEDURE

Mares were randomly allocated into treatment (n = 20) and control (20) groups and administered a placebo or 3 times the therapeutic dosage of ivermectin (0.6 mg/kg) and praziquantel (4.5 mg/kg) at 14-day intervals until parturition. Physical examinations were performed on mares and their foals after parturition (on postpartum days 30, 60, and 90) to identify any drug-related effects. As an aid in assessing general health, hematologic and serum biochemical analyses were performed monthly on the mares.

RESULTS

In blood constituents, minor alterations that were not biologically important were observed. Reproductive performance was not affected by the unusual treatment duration or high dosage, although the drugs were administered during a crucial period of equine embryonic development (30 to 60 days). Neither adverse effects on mares nor abortions occurred. Follow-up evaluations of the foals for a 3-month period did not detect any abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Administration of the ivermectin-praziquantel paste appears to be safe in pregnant mares and their foals.