Abstract
Avermectins are a family of macrocyclic lactones isolated from Streptomyces avermitilis 1,2 which have potent anthelmintic3 and insecticidal activity.4,5 The name ‘avermectin’ reflects their efficacy against worms or ‘vermes’ as well as their activity against ectoparasites. The avermectins are composed of a 16-membered ring and are distinguished from other macrocyclic antibiotics by their characteristic spiroketal, hexahydrobenzofuran unit and the disaccharide component at the 13-position (Fig. 1). The naturally occurring avermectins are separated into four major components (Ala, A2a, Bla and B2a), of which the B series are generally more biologically active. Abamectin is the non-proprietary name for a marketed miticide and insecticide composed of avermectin Bla (>80%) and avermectin Blb (<20%). Ivermectin is a semi-synthetic analog, (>80% 22,23-dihydroavermectin Bla and <20% 22,23-dihydroavermectin Blb) widely used as an endectocide for farm animals. Other avermectin analogs have been reported to have good efficacy against various insect species.6 Milbemycins are natural products closely related to the avermectins, differing only in their lack of a C-13 disaccharide substituent.
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Schaeffer, J.M., Rohrer, S.P., Cully, D., Arena, J. (1992). Avermectins: Idiosyncratic Toxicity in a Subpopulation of Collie Dogs. In: Duce, I.R. (eds) Neurotox ’91. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2898-8_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2898-8_6
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