3 November 2009

2 minute read

Europe

The researchers say that the new findings extend existing knowledge and demonstrate that BUTOX is not only effective in dry weather conditions, but also effectively kills the biting midges (Culicoides)in wet conditions. Previously, efficacy of BUTOX had only been proven in dry weather and in animals provided with shelter. The study, which was supported by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, has been published in the November 2009 issue of Parasitology Research. Cattle and sheep were treated with a single application of BUTOX and subsequently thoroughly wetted twice a week with water. Over a period of four weeks hair was clipped off the legs, near the claws. Midges where then exposed to the clipped hair and the time to death of the midges after exposure to deltamethrin was recorded It was reported that BUTOX remained effective (killing all exposed insects) during wet conditions for at least four weeks, although in sheep the average time to midge death was longer in animals exposed to wet conditions as compared to animals in dry conditions. "This finding is highly encouraging as it shows that deltamethrin protects cattle and sheep in rainy weather conditions as well, which is particularly relevant in situations when vaccination against bluetongue virus is not feasible such as with emergence of new serotypes of the virus," explains Dr. Heinz Mehlhorn, study director at the Heinrich-Heine University. "The fact that BUTOX also works in rainy conditions will be of great reassurance and economic importance to veterinarians and farmers, augmenting its position as the insecticide of choice to protect livestock from being exposed to ectoparasites," added Herbert Pohle, co-author of the article and global marketing director of ruminant parasite management at Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.