Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Environmental monitoring of ivermectin excreted in spring climatic conditions by treated cattle on dung fauna and degradation of faeces on pasture

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of ivermectin excreted in faeces of cattle treated in late winter on the arthropods and the degradation of faeces on pasture were evaluated. Four calves of similar age and weight were allocated to two groups, one group was treated subcutaneously with ivermectin and the other group remained as untreated control. From faeces collected from both groups at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-treatment (dpt), three faecal pats of 1 kg each were made and deposited on a mixed paddock. One quarter of each faecal pat was removed at 10, 20, 30 and 60 days postdeposition (dpd) to determine the concentration of ivermectin, the organic matter content, and to collect colonising dung arthropods. Concentrations at days 3 and 7 pt were significantly higher than at the other dpt (p < 0.05). The highest ivermectin concentrations were found in samples from 3 dpt (p < 0.05). The organic matter percentage was not significantly different between treatments. An edaphic fauna characterised the colonisation of the faeces by organisms. Although arthropods’ abundance differences were not significant except for the 28 dpt at 30 dpd (p < 0.0003), fewer organisms were collected from the ivermectin group at all times.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alvinerie M, Sutra JF, Galtier P, Lifschitz A, Virkel G, Sallovitz J, Lanusse C (1998) Persistence of ivermectin in plasma and faeces following administration of a sustained-release bolus to cattle. Res Vet Sci 66:57–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anziani OS, Fiel CA (2005) Resistencia de los nemátodos gastrointestinales a los antihelmínticos: un problema emergente y relevante para la producción bovina nacional. In Estudio de la resistencia a los antiparasitarios en Argentina. FAO, Producción y Sanidad Animal, Roma, pp 40–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Boxall AB, Sherratt TN, Pudner V, Pope LJ (2007) A screening level index for assessing the impacts of veterinary medicines on dun flies. Environ Sci Technol 41:2630–2635

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Celestina T, Gobec I, Kolar L, Cerkvenik Flajs V, Pogacnik M, Kožuh Eržen N (2010) Factors influencing dissipation of avermectins in sheep faeces. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 73(1):18–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu SHL, Green ML, Baylis FP, Eline D, Rosegay A, Meriwether H, Jacob TA (1990) Absorption, tissue distribution, and excretion of tritium labeled ivermectin in cattle, sheep, and rat. J Agric Food Chem 38:2072–2078

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Desière M (1973) Ecologie des coléopteres coprophages. Ann Soc R Zool Belg 103:135–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiel CA, Saumell CA, Steffan PE, Rodriguez EM (2001) Resistance of Cooperia to ivermectin treatments in grazing cattle of the humid Pampa Argentina. Vet Parasitol 97:211–217

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Floate KD (1998) Off-target effects of ivermectin on insects and on dung degradation in southern Alberta, Canada. Bull Entomol Res 88:25–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Floate KD (2006) Endectocide use in cattle and fecal residues: environmental effects in Canada. Can J Vet Res 70:1–10

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Floate KD, Fox AS (1999) Indirect effects of ivermectin residues across trophic levels: Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) and Muscidifurx zaraptor(Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Bull Entomol Res 89:225–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Floate KD, Gill BD (1998) Seasonal activity of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) associated with cattle dung in southern Alberta and their geographic distribution in Canada. Can Entomol 130:131–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Floate KD, Colwell DD, Fox AS (2002) Reductions of non-pest insects in dung of cattle treated with endectocides: a comparison of four products. Bull Entomol Res 92:471–481

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Floate KD, Wardhaugh KG, Boxall ABA, Sherrat TN (2005) Fecal residues of veterinary parasiticides: non target effects in the pasture environment. Annu Rev Entomol 50:153–179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gover J, Strong L (1995a) The effects of ivermectin in ingested cow-dung on the mortality and oviposition of the dung fly Neomyia cornicina (Diptera: Muscidae). Bull Entomol Res 85:53–57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gover J, Strong L (1995b) Effects of ingested ivermectin on body mass and excretion in the dung fly, Neomyia cornicina. Physiol Entomol 20:93–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halley BA, Jacob TA, Lu AYH (1989) The environmental impact of the use of ivermectin: environmental effects and fate. Chemosphere 18:1543–1563

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iglesias L (1998) Colonização de bolos fecais de bovinos tratados com ivermectin durante a época seca em condições simuladas de campo. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (MG) Brasil, Dissertação de mestrado

    Google Scholar 

  • Iglesias LE, Saumell CA, Fusé LA, Lützelschwab CM, Steffan PE, Fiel CA (2004) Patrón primaveral de colonización y permanencia de artrópodos en masas fecales de bovinos en la zona de Tandil, Argentina. Rev RIA 33:85–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Iglesias LE, Saumell CA, Fernández AS, Fusé LA, Lifschitz AL, Rodríguez EM, Steffan PE, Fiel CA (2006) Environmental impact of ivermectin excreted by cattle in autumn on dung fauna and degradation of faeces on pasture. Parasitol Res 100:93–102

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen J, Krogh P, Sverdrup LE (2003) Effects of the antibacterial agents tiamulin, olanquindox and metronidazole and the anthelmintic ivermectin on the soil invertebrate species Folsomia fimetraria (Collembola) and Enchytraeus crypticus (Enchytraeidae). Chemosphere 50:437–443

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kolar L, Kožuh Eržen N (2007) Degradation of abamectin and doramectin in sheep faeces under different experimental conditions. Int J Environ Pollut 31:22–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krüger K, Scholtz C (1998a) Changes in the structure of dung insect communities after ivermectin usage in a grassland ecosystem. Acta Oecol 19(5):425–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krüger K, Scholtz C (1998b) Changes in the structure of dung insect communities after ivermectin usage in a grassland ecosystem. II Impact of ivermectin under high-rainfall conditions. Acta Oecol 19(5):439–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lifschitz A, Virkel G, Sallovitz J, Sutra JF, Galtier P, Alvinerie M, Lanusse C (2000) Comparative distribution of ivermectin and doramectin to tissues of parasite location in cattle. Vet Parasitol 87:327–338

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lumaret JP, Erroussi F (2002) Use of anthelmintics in herbivores and evaluation of risks for the non target fauna of pastures. Vet Res 33:547–562

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lumaret JP, Martínez I (2005) El impacto de productos veterinarios sobre insectos coprófagos: consecuencias sobre la degradación del estiércol en pastizales. Acta Zool Mex 21(3):137–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Madsen M, Overgaard Nielsen B, Holter P, Pedersen OC, Brøchner-Jespersen J, Vagn-Jensen KM, Nansen P, Grønvold J (1990) Treating cattle with ivermectin: effects on the fauna and decomposition of dung pats. J Appl Ecol 27:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merritt RW, Anderson JR (1977) The effects of different pasture and rangeland ecosystems on the annual dynamics of insects in cattle droppings. Hilgardia 45:31–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohr CO (1943) Cattle droppings as ecological units. Ecol Monogr 13(3):275–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (1989) SAS/STAT User’s Guide, Version 6, vol 1, 4th edn. SAS Institute, Cary, p 943

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommer C, Steffansen B (1993) Changes with time after treatment in the concentrations of ivermectin in fresh cow dung and in cow pats aged in the field. Vet Parasitol 48:67–73

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sommer C, Steffansen B, Overgaard-Nielsen B, Grønvold J, Vagn-Jensen KM, Brøchner-Jespersen J, Springborg J, Nansen P (1992) Ivermectin excreted in cattle dung after subcutaneous injection or pour-on treatment: concentrations and impact on dung fauna. Bull Entomol Res 82:257–264

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tullgren A (1918) Ein sehr einfacher Ausleseapparat fur terricole Tierformen. Z Angew Entomol 4:149–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Valiela I (1974) Composition, food webs and population limitation in dung arthropod communities during invasion and succession. Am Mid Nat 92(2):370–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wall R, Strong L (1987) Environmental consequences of treating cattle with the antiparasitic drug ivermectin. Nature 327:418–421

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wardhaugh KG, Rodriguez Menendez H (1988) The effects of the antiparasitic drug, ivermectin, on the development and survival of the dung-breeding fly, Orthelia cornicina (F) and the scarabaeine dung beetles, Copris hispanus L., Bubas bubalus (Oliver) and Onitis belial F. J Appl Entomol 106:381–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wardhaugh KG, Longstaff BC, Morton RA (2001) A comparison of the development and survival of the dung beetle, Onthophagus taurus (Schreb.) when fen on the faeces of cattle treated with pour-on formulations of eprinomectin or moxidectin. Vet Parasitol 99:155–168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We thank Raúl Rivas and Juliano Schirmbeck for technical and instrumental assistance. We are grateful to Juan Manuel Sallovitz for their valued suggestion on this manuscript

Author information

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

    Lucía E. Iglesias, Luis A. Fusé, María F. Sagüés & Carlos A. Saumell

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

    Adrián L. Lifschitz

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

    Edgardo M. Rodríguez

Authors
  1. Lucía E. Iglesias
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Luis A. Fusé
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Adrián L. Lifschitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Edgardo M. Rodríguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. María F. Sagüés
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Carlos A. Saumell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lucía E. Iglesias.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Iglesias, L.E., Fusé, L.A., Lifschitz, A.L. et al. Environmental monitoring of ivermectin excreted in spring climatic conditions by treated cattle on dung fauna and degradation of faeces on pasture. Parasitol Res 108, 1185–1191 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2161-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2161-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation