Target species
Sheep.
Indications for use, specifying the target species
For the treatment and control of parasitic bronchitis, parasitic gastro-enteritis and fascioliasis in sheep. When used at the recommended dose rate, the product is effective against mature and developing immature stages of levamisole-susceptible Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Cooperia, Nematodirus, Bunostomum, Chabertia and Oesophagostomum species in the gastro-intestinal tract, and Dictyocaulus spp in the lungs. It is also effective against all stages of Triclabendazole susceptible Fasciola hepatica from two day old early immature to adult fluke, and so is indicated against both acute and chronic fascioliasis.
Contraindications
None.
Special warnings for each target species
Efficacy of this product against roundworms is reduced if levamisole resistant strains are present. Efficacy of this product against liver fluke is reduced if triclabendazole resistant strains are present.
Special precautions for use
i. Special precautions for use in animals
Assess bodyweight as accurately as possible before calculating the dosage.
Animals must not be treated within a period of 14 days before or after treatment with organophosphorus compounds.
Clean drenching equipment before and after use.
Shake container thoroughly before use and use undiluted product from the original container.
Intensive use or misuse of anthelmintics can give rise to resistance. To reduce this risk, dosing programmes should be discussed with your Veterinary Adviser.
Care should be taken to avoid the following practices because they increase the risk of development of resistance and could ultimately result in ineffective therapy:
•Too frequent and repeated use of anthelmintics from the same class, over an extended period of time.
•Underdosing, which may be due to underestimation of body weight, misadministration of the product, or lack of calibration of the dosing device (if any).
Suspected clinical cases of resistance to anthelmintics should be further investigated using appropriate tests (e.g. Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test). Where the results of the test(s) strongly suggest resistance to a particular anthelmintic, an anthelmintic belonging to another pharmacological class and having a different mode of action should be used.
Resistance to levamisole has been reported in Teladorsagia, Cooperia and Trichostrongylus species in sheep in a number of countries, including ones in the EU. There are reports of resistance in Haemonchus in sheep outside the EU. Resistance to triclabendazole has been reported in Fasciola species in small ruminants in a number of countries including ones in the EU. Therefore the use of this product should be based on local (regional, farm) epidemiological information about susceptibility of nematodes and trematodes and recommendations on how to limit further selection for resistance to anthelmintics.
ii. Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
When using, do not eat, drink or smoke.
Wash splashes from eyes and skin immediately.
Take off immediately any contaminated clothing.
Wash hands and exposed skin before meals and after work.
Levamisole can cause idiosyncratic reactions and serious blood disorders in a very small number of people. If symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting or abdominal discomfort are experienced when using the product, or sore mouth/throat or fever occurs shortly afterwards, then medical advice should be sought immediately.
Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)
When the product is used at the recommended dose rate and animals are not overly stressed, side effects are rare. At higher dosages, transient side effects due to levamisole may occur (i.e. salivation and slight muscle tremors).
Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
The product can be administered safely to pregnant or lactating sheep. For dairy sheep, see Withdrawals section.
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
None known.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
Do not mix with other products.
Given as an oral drench. Suitable for use through most types of automatic drenching gun. It can be safely administered to young or pregnant sheep.
To ensure administration of a correct dose, bodyweight should be determined as accurately as possible; accuracy of the dosing device should be checked.
Recommended dose rate: 7.5 mg levamisole hydrochloride/kg and 10 mg triclabendazole/kg. This is equivalent to 1 ml of the product per 5 kg bodyweight.
Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary
At higher doses transient side effects due to levamisole may occur (i.e. salivation and dose dependent muscle tremors).
Withdrawal period(s)
Animals must not be slaughtered for human consumption during treatment.
Sheep may be slaughtered for human consumption only after 56 days from the last treatment.
Not authorised for use in ewes producing milk for human consumption including during the dry period. Do not use within 1 year prior to the first lambing in ewes intended to produce milk for human consumption.