Target Species
Cattle and sheep
Indications for use
Levacur SC 3% is a broad spectrum anthelmintic for the treatment and control of gastro-intestinal and pulmonary nematode infections in cattle and sheep. Levacur SC 3% is effective against mature and developing immature stages of the following levamisole-susceptible major nematode worm species:-
Gastro-intestinal Worms:
Trichostrongylus spp.,
Cooperia spp., Ostertagia spp. (except inhibited
Ostertagia larvae in cattle), Haemonchus spp.,
Nematodirus spp., Bunostomum spp.,
Oesophagostomum spp., Chabertia spp.
Lungworms: Dictyocaulus spp.
Levacur SC 3% is not effective against Type II Winter scour.
The product also contains Selenium and Cobalt as nutritional supplements.
Contraindications
Animals should not be treated simultaneously or within 14 days before or after the use of Levacur SC 3% with Organophosphorus compounds or diethylcarbamazine citrate.
Special warnings for each target species
The product may be given to young, pregnant and lactating animals, but due regard must always be paid to the animals physical condition and the presence of inter-current disease.
When a dosing gun is used to administer the product, care should be taken to avoid the occurrence of dosing gun pharyngitis.
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.
∙ Under dosing, 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 the EU. There are reports of resistance in Haemonchus in sheep outside the EU. Resistance to levamisole has been reported in Teladorsagia species in cattle in developed countries such as New Zealand. Therefore the use of this product should be based on local (regional, farm) epidemiological information about susceptibility of nematodes and recommendations on how to limit further selection for resistance to anthelmintics.
Special precautions for use
For oral use only
Do not administer other cobalt and selenium supplements concurrently unless specifically advised by your veterinary surgeon. Not to be diluted.
Operator warnings
Levamisole can cause idiosyncratic reactions as well as serious blood disorders in a very small number of people. If symptoms such as dizziness, nausea or vomiting or abdominal discomfort are experienced when using this product, or sore mouth /throat or fever occur shortly afterwards, then medical advice should be sought immediately. Wash hands and exposed skin before meals and after work. Remove any contaminated clothing immediately. Wash splashes from eyes and skin immediately. When using do not eat, drink or smoke.
Adverse Reactions
Occasionally at the recommended dose cattle may show signs of lip-licking and slight muscle tremor.
Use during pregnancy or lactation
Levacur SC 3% can be safely used during pregnancy and lactation.
Interactions
Animals should not be treated simultaneously or within 14 days before or after the use of Levacur SC 3% with Organophosphorus compounds or diethylcarbamazine citrate.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
The product should only be administered as an oral drench.
Sheep: 2.5 ml per 10 kg (22 lbs) bodyweight
(7.5 mg Levamisole hydrochloride per kg bodyweight).
Practical dosage recommendations:
10 kg (22 lbs) | 2.5 ml | 40 kg (88 lbs) | 10.0 ml |
20 kg (44 lbs) | 5.0 ml | 50 kg (110 lbs) | 12.5 ml |
30 kg (66 lbs) | 7.5 ml | 60 kg (132 lbs) | 15.0 ml |
Sheep over 60 kg should be given a further 1 ml for each additional 4 kg bodyweight.
Cattle: 2.5 ml per 10 kg (22 lbs) bodyweight
(7.5 mg Levamisole Hydrochloride per kg bodyweight), up to a maximum of 75 ml for cattle weighing 300 kg and over.
Practical dosage recommendations
50 kg (1 cwt) | 12.5 ml | 200 kg (4 cwt) | 50.0 ml |
100 kg (2 cwt) | 25.0 ml | 250 kg (5 cwt) | 62.5 ml |
150 kg (3 cwt) | 37.5 ml | 300 kg (6 cwt) | 75.0 ml |
Veterinary advice should be sought:
- On appropriate dosing programmes and stock management to achieve adequate parasite control, and to reduce the likelihood of anthelmintic resistance developing.
- If the product does not achieve the desired clinical effect, since other diseases, nutritional disturbances or anthelmintic resistance may be involved.
To ensure administration of the correct dose, body weight should be determined as accurately as possible; accuracy of the dosing device should be checked.
Do not mix with other products.
Overdose
At normal therapeutic dosages side effects are rarely seen. Overdose may occasionally result in the appearance of cholinergic-type symptoms such as salivation, muscular tremors and head shaking. They are more likely to be observed in cattle than in sheep.
Withdrawal periods
Cattle (meat): 20 days
Sheep (meat): 20 days
Not for use in animals producing milk for human consumption