In-feed 0.6% ivermectin formulation for treatment of wild boar in the Moslavina hunting ground in Croatia

An in-feed 0.6% ivermectin formulation was administered for 7 days to wild boar piglets at three sites of the Moslavina hunting ground in Croatia. Examination of internal organs and skin of five piglets that died immediately before the start of administration of the ivermectin formulation revealed the presence of Metastrongylus apri and Metastrongylus pudendotectus in the lungs, and of Ascarops strongylina, Physocephalus sexalatus and Globocephalus urosubulatusin in the gastrointestinal tract. Coccidial oocysts were found in the feces of all animals. Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis was identified in the skin of four piglets. The efficacy of treatment was assessed by examining fecal samples before start of therapy (day 0) and on days 7 and 14. Before treatment strongylid-type eggs were detected in 70–100% of fecal samples (210–505 EpG) The eggs of Strongyloides ransomi, Trichuris suis, Ascaris suum, Ascarops strongylina and Physocephalus sexalatus were identified in 10–50% of fecal samples at an intensity of 5–45 EpG. On day 14 after the start of the treatment, strongylid-type eggs were detected in 10% of fecal samples from one of the three sites only. Eggs of other helminth species were not detected at any of the three sites. This confirmed the successful therapeutic efficacy of the in-feed 0,6% ivermectin formulation.