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Environmental impact of ivermectin excreted by cattle treated in autumn on dung fauna and degradation of faeces on pasture

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Abstract

The effect of ivermectin excreted in faeces of treated cattle on dung fauna and dung degradation on pasture during autumn was evaluated. Two groups of calves were used. One group was treated subcutaneously with ivermectin while the other remained as untreated control. Faeces deposited on 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days post-treatment (dpt) were removed on 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 30 and 60 days post-deposition (dpd) and were used to determine the concentration of ivermectin and the percentage of organic matter and for the collection of colonising organisms. Samples from 1 and 3 dpt contained the highest drug concentration and percentage of organic matter compared to the control group (p<0.05). Faeces from the treated group showed lesser abundance and diversity of arthropods (p<0.05) than the control group. A reduction in numbers and diversity of dung fauna in faecal samples from treated animals was most remarkable at 1, 3 and 7 dpt, coinciding with the highest concentration of ivermectin and organic matter percentage.

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Acknowledgement

The experiments performed during the present study comply with the current laws of Argentina.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Área de Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias, Departamento de Sanidad Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro, Campus Universitario, B7000GHG, Tandil, Argentina

    L. E. Iglesias, C. A. Saumell, L. A. Fusé, P. E. Steffan & C. A. Fiel

  2. Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, c/o Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, N1H 8C2, Ontario, Canada

    A. S. Fernández

  3. Laboratorio de Farmacología, Departamento de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro, Campus Universitario, B7000GHG, Tandil, Argentina

    A. L. Lifschitz

  4. Área de Bioestadística, Departamento de Sanidad Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro, Campus Universitario, B7000GHG, Tandil, Argentina

    E. M. Rodríguez

Authors
  1. L. E. Iglesias
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  2. C. A. Saumell
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  3. A. S. Fernández
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  4. L. A. Fusé
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  5. A. L. Lifschitz
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  6. E. M. Rodríguez
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  7. P. E. Steffan
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  8. C. A. Fiel
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Correspondence to L. E. Iglesias.

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Iglesias, L.E., Saumell, C.A., Fernández, A.S. et al. Environmental impact of ivermectin excreted by cattle treated in autumn on dung fauna and degradation of faeces on pasture. Parasitol Res 100, 93–102 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0240-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0240-x

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