The therapeutic effect of pour-on administered cypermethrin in Psoroptes cunuculi infestation in rabbits

Abstract

In this study, clinical and in vivo acaricidal effects of pour-on administered cypermethrin in rabbits with Psoroptes cuniculi were evaluated. Totally 24 rabbits were used in the study. Sixteen rabbits, naturally infested with P. cuniculi were randomly divided into two equal experimental groups and cypermethrin was pour-on administered 5 mg/kg (Group I) and 10 mg/kg (Group II) as a single dose. Also, 8 healthy animals (non-infested with P. cuniculi) exposed only saline were used for the control group. Psoroptic mange was diagnosed and monitored in the experimental groups by otoscopic and microscopic evaluations on Day 0 (pretreatment) and Days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after the treatment. Clinical findings about psoroptic mange were scored, blood cypermethrin concentrations and haematological parameters were determined on the evaluation days. Six rabbits from Group I had P. cuniculi and a statistically important difference was determined between number of infested rabbits of Group I and Group II on Day 21 (p<0.05). Also, clinical scores of two groups were statistically different on Days 14 and 21 (p<0.05). At the end of the study, only 10 mg/kg dose of cypermethrin could provide clinical recovery. No toxicological signs related to the therapy were detected in the all groups during the study. It was concluded that cypermethrin could be an effective, safe, and practical treatment alternative for P. cuniculi in rabbits. However, further studies should be performed for determination of the exact therapeutic doses.