Efficacy of domperidone gel in an induced model of fescue toxicosis in periparturient mares.

The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of domperidone in the prevention of reproductive complications of fescue toxicosis in periparturient mares. Pregnant mares at ≤310 days of gestation were fed ≥200 µg ergovaline per kg diet daily in endophyte-infected fescue hay and seed, starting ≥30 days before their expected foaling date (EFD: 340 days after breeding). Thirty-five mares were randomized to a treatment group to receive either domperidone gel (n = 20, 1.1 mg/kg, PO, once daily) or placebo (n = 15). Treatment was initiated 10 to 15 days before the EFD and continued for 5 days after foaling. "Treatment success" was defined as foaling within 14 days of the EFD, adequate mammary development on the day of foaling, and adequate lactation for 5 days postpartum. Twenty-seven mares were included in the effectiveness analysis. More mares in the domperidone group (12/13, P < 0.0001) were treatment successes than in the control group (1/14). Gestation length was shorter (P = 0.0011), and lactation at foaling (P = 0.0011) was better for the domperidone-group mares. Foals from two control mares were born dead and four others died or were euthanized within a few days after birth, compared with one foal death (an autolyzed twin) from a domperidone-treated mare. Plasma IgG concentrations were evaluated in 24 foals. Failure of passive transfer of immunoglobulins (IgG <800 mg/dL) occurred in 13/16 (81%) foals of domperidone-group mares and 7/8 (88%) foals of control mares. In conclusion, the reproductive complications of fescue toxicosis in periparturient mares induced by a fescue seed/hay model were prevented by treatment with domperidone.

Persistent efficacy of topical eprinomectin against nematode parasites in cattle.

Six studies were conducted to evaluate the persistent efficacy of eprinomectin pour-on against experimental challenges with infective nematode larvae in calves. In each study, calves were randomly assigned to one untreated group and up to four test groups, which were treated with eprinomectin at 500 microg/kg body weight at weekly intervals before single bolus challenge. The calves were necropsied approximately 4 weeks after challenge infection for nematode recovery. Eprinomectin pour-on provided > or =90% efficacy against challenge with Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus axei and T. colubriformis at 21 days after treatment and against Cooperia oncophora, C. punctata, C. surnabada, Dictyocaulus viviparus, Nematodirus helvetianus, Oesophagostomum radiatum and Ostertagia ostertagi at 28 days after treatment.