Comparative efficacy of pour-on eprinomectin and ivermectin against Sarcoptes scabiei in buffaloes.

The efficacy of eprinomectin and ivermectin pour-on was evaluated against Sarcoptes scabiei in naturally infested buffaloes. Eighteen animals were allocated into three groups (A, B and C) of six animals each. Animals in group A were treated with eprinomectin (pour-on) @ 0.5 mg/kg; group B with ivermectin (pour-on) @ 0.2 mg/kg while group C served as untreated controls. Skin scrapings were examined on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 42 post-treatment (PT). Skin scrapings were found free for mites on day 21 PT, with marked clinical improvement in the lesions after day 28 of treatment. Untreated control group continued to show severe progressive lesions throughout the study period. No clinical side-effects of the tested drugs were observed after treatment. This preliminary report on the efficacy of eprinomectin (pour-on) against S. scabiei in buffaloes is encouraging and results could be of considerable importance.