Doramectin is a macrocyclic lactone that was introduced in the 1990s, about 10 years later than ivermectin, the first macrocyclic lactone that came to market. Since then, several veterinary parasites have developed resistance or tolerance to these molecules. Most resistance cases to doramectin were "caused" by excessive use of ivermectin, with cross-resistance to all other macrocyclic lactone
The most relevant resistant species are:
- In CATTLE, SHEEP and GOATS:
- Gastrointestinal roundworms, mainly Haemonchus spp, Cooperia spp, Nematodirus spp, Trichostrongylus spp, Teladorsagia spp, Oesophagostomum spp.
- Cattle ticks: Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp. only cattle
- In HORSES
- Cyathostomins = small strongyles = small red worms, a group of about 50 species of gastrointestinal roundworms.
- Horse roundworm (Parascaris equorum).
See below for DETAILS.
There are reports on other parasites that have developed resistance to macrocyclic lactones, thus also to doramectin. But so far, such cases remain restricted to limited regions and/or do not represent a global threat for domestic animals yet, and thus are not particularly analyzed in this article. Recommended measures to handle these cases are more or less the same as for the most critical ones: Rotation to chemical classes with different modes of action that remain effective and/or Integrated Pest Management. The following cases can be mentioned:
- Cattle: Human botflies (Dermatobia hominis) mainly in cattle. Cases of resistance of D. hominis to macrocyclic lactones were reported in Brazil (2015, 2021).
- Sheep: Blowflies (Lucilia cuprina). In 2020 Australian field strains that were found to be resistant to cyromazine showed cross-resistance with ivermectin.
- Sheep: Sheep scab (Psoroptes ovis). Firts resistance cases reported in the UK (2018, to moxidectin) and Argentina (2022, to ivermectin).
- Pigs: Oesophagostomum dentatum (Oesophagostomum spp). A first case of resistance of O. dentatum to ivermectin was reported in the UK in 2018.
Multiresistance is spreading. In 2010 one sheep property was reported in Brazil where gastrointestinal roundworms were simultaneously resistant to 7 different chemical classes (levamisole, benzimidazoles, macrocyclic lactones, nitroxinil, disophenol, trichlorfon and closantel). In 2021 a study in cattle farms in Brazil reported multiresistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to 4 chemical classes of anthelmintics in 95% of the twenty farms investigated: macrocyclic lactones, levamisole, benzimidazoles, and closantel.
Doramectin is not used in pets, only in livestock (mainly in ruminants and pigs) and horses. It is mostly available as an injectable or as a pour-on for livestock, or as an oral paste or gel for horses. There are numerous generic brands available.
It is a general rule that compounds that belong to the same chemical class show so-called cross-resistance among them, i.e., if a parasite develops resistance to one compound, it will be more or less resistant to other compounds of the same chemical class.
Parasites with resistance to doramectin
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Gastrointestinal roundworms in catte, sheep and goats
- OCCURRENCE. Resistance of these gastrointestinal roundworms (mainly Haemonchus spp, Cooperia spp, Nematodirus spp, Trichostrongylus spp, Teladorsagia spp, Oesophagostomum spp).to ivermectin has been reported worldwide, it is very frequent in all types of livestock operations, and can be very high, making ivermectin treatments completely useless against gastrointestinal roundworms. Prevalence studies during a FAO survey run in the early 2000s in numerous countries in sheep properties found that more or less strong resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to macrocyclic lactones was present in 89% of the properties investigated in Uruguay, 70% in Australia, 50% in Argentina, 44% in Mexico, 35% in Scotland, and 25% in New Zealand. Since than the problem has certainly not improved but worsened.The problem is slightly less dramatic in cattle than in sheep and goats, but will certainly not decrease. Basically ivermectin resistance shows cross-resistance with all other macrocyclic lactones used in livestock (milbemycin oxime and selamectin are used only in pets). Moxidectin products, can still control ivermectin-resistant roundworms to some extent, but sooner or later they will fail as well.
- OUTLOOK. Problems will worsen quickly everywhere. Resistance will continue to spread and to strengthen, because little is done in most regions to reduce their use and to encourage non-chemical control and prevention. In fact, it is the biggest and most threatening resistance problem in livestock parasites. Also because such parasites are often multiresistant, i.e. they can be simultaneously resistant to nematicides of other chemical classes e.g. benzimidazoles, levamisole, etc.
- RECOMMENDED MEASURES. The most recommended measure is to switch to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and/or to implement whatever preventative measures that reduce the use of any chemicals. Where alternative chemicals of other chemical classes are still working against these worms, rotation is usually a good option, i.e. to stop using macrocyclic lactones and to use other products with actives of those still effective chemical classes during several years.
- ALTERNATIVE PARASITICIDES for ROTATION. There are various chemical classes that control gastrointestinal roundworms too, and rotation with other chemical classes that still work can make sense. However, those worm species that have developed resistance to ivermectin and other macrocyclic lactones are often also resistant to those other chemical classes. Other chemicals or chemical classes that control gastrointestinal roundworms of livestock to some extent are the following (sometimes they do not control all the worm species that macrocyclic lactones do, or they are not available in the same delivery forms as macrocyclic lactones, or are not available everywhere, etc.):
- Benzimidazoles (e.g. febantel, fenbendazole, flubendazole, mebendazole, oxfendazole, oxibendazole, etc.). Resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to benzimidazoles is already very frequent and high as well, and multiresistant roundworm populations are spreading.
- Levamisole (imidazothiazoles). Resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to levamisole is less frequent that to benzimidazoles and macrocyclic lactones, but it is also spreading and strengthening because it is increasingly used in livestock due to resistance to other chemical classes. Multiresistant worm populations that are also resistant to levamisole have been already reported.
- Tetrahydropyrimidines (e.g. pyrantel, morantel, etc.). Are not effective against some important gastrointestinal roundworm species (narrow spectrum of activity), and there are rather few products available for livestock. Resistance of gastrointestinal roundworm to this chemical class in livestock is not an issue.
- Salicylanilides (e.g. closantel, rafoxanide). Are not effective against some gastrointestinal roundworm species (narrow spectrum of activity), and there are rather few products available for livestock in several countries. Resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to this chemical class in livestock is not an issue, although some cases have been reported (Haemonchus contortus).
- Monepantel. It is available for sheep and goats. For cattle available in combination with abamectin in some countries. Resistance of several gastrointestinal roundworms (Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Teladorsagia ) to monepantel has already been reported in several countries in sheep and goats but it is still not very frequent.
- Derquantel. It is only available for sheep in combination with abamectin. A few cases of reduced efficacy of the derquantel and abamectin mixture have been reported in Argentina and Australia.
- Nitroxinil. It is a narrow-spectrum anthelmintic effective against liver flukes and a few gastrointestinal roundworms (e.g. Bunostomum spp, Haemonchus spp, Oesophagostomum spp). Nitroxinil is usually administered as an injectable.
- Organophosphates (e.g. naphtalophos, trichlorfon). Organophosphates were used as nematicides in the 1960s, before more effective and less toxic compounds became available. By the 1980s they were mostly abandoned for this purpose. However, the strong increase in resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to almost all modern anthelmintics has led to the re-introduction of some organophosphates for sheep in certain countries (e.g. Australia, Uruguay, etc.).
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Cattle ticks: Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp.
- OCCURRENCE. Resistance of R. microplus to ivermectin has been reported in most countries in Latin America (e.g. in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Uruguay) and also in India. For other related species resistance to ivermectin has been reported e.g. in Egypt (R. annulatus) and South Africa (R. decoloratus). The problem seems to be just beginning. To our knowledge no ivermectin resistance has been reported yet for R. australis in Australia or other parts of Asia. Cross-resistance with all other macrocyclic lactones used in livestock must be assumed (abamectin, doramectin, eprinomectin, moxidectin).
- OUTLOOK. Problems are likely to worsen everywhere. Resistance will continue to spread and to strengthen, particularly where macrocyclic lactones are massively used to control these ticks.
- RECOMMENDED MEASURES. The most reasonable measure is to switch to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and/or to implement whatever preventative measures that reduce the use of any chemicals (see the article on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) in this site). Where alternative chemicals of another chemical classes are still working against these ticks, rotation is usually a good option, i.e. to stop using macrocyclic lactones and to use other products with active ingredients of those still effective chemical classes during several years.
- ALTERNATIVE PARASITICIDES for ROTATION. There are several chemical classes of parasiticides that are effective for the control of cattle ticks. However, most of them are ectoparasiticides that will not control gastrointestinal roundworms, and they are not available for drench or injectable administration, but only for topical use (dipping, pour-on, spraying, etc.).
- Amitraz. Amitraz is only available for dipping or spraying. However, resistance of cattle ticks to amitraz is already quite frequent worldwide and spreading, following its increased use as an alternative to synthetic pyrethroids. It controls only ticks as well as lice and mites to some extent. It does not control flies or gastrointestinal roundworms.
- Fipronil. Fipronil is approved for the control of cattle ticks in some countries (e.g. Latin America and India) but in others not (e.g. Australia, USA). It is available only as a pour-on. Usually it has a very long withholding period of at least 12 weeks. It does not control gastrointestinal roundworms. However, resistance of cattle ticks to fipronil has also been reported in Latin America and is likely to develop elsewhere, where fipronil is used against cattle ticks.
- Fluazuron. Fluazuron is available for cattle tick control in most countries where these ticks are a problem. However, it is very specific for ticks and does not control other external parasites or gastrointestinal roundworms. It is available only as a pour-on. Some cases of resistance of cattle ticks to fluazuron have been already reported in Brazil.
- Organophosphates (chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, diazinon, ethion, dichlorvos, etc.). In the past (up to the 1990s) organophosphates were used a lot worldwide for tick control. They were progressively abandoned for safety reasons when less toxic compounds were introduced. Availability today is strongly reduced because many products have been banned by the authorities or discontinued by the manufacturers. Organophosphates are used mainly for dipping or spraying. Most organophosphates are also effective against external parasites other than ticks (lice, mites, flies, etc.). Used topically they are not effective against gastrointestinal roundworms. Resistance of cattle ticks to organophosphates was well established before they were replaced and it must be assumed that it remains present in many regions.
- Synthetic pyrethroids (e.g. cypermethrin, deltamethrin, permethrin, etc.). Synthetic pyrethroids are only available for topical use (dipping, spraying, pour-on). They control numerous external parasites (ticks, mites, lice, flies, etc.), but are ineffective against gastrointestinal roundworms. Following their massive use worldwide from the 1980s onwards, resistance of cattle ticks and other external parasites to synthetic pyrethroids is strongly established worldwide and is often extremely high, making them completely useless.
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Gastrointestinal roundworms in horses
- Cyathostomins = small strongyles = small red worms a group of about 50 species of gastrointestinal roundworms that affect horses, donkeys and other equids worldwide.
- Horse roundworm (Parascaris equorum).
- OCCURRENCE. Tolerance of cyathostomins to macrocyclic lactones, manifested as a low but significant worm egg output after treatment (determined after fecal egg counts) is not yet widespread, but has been already reported in Europe (e.g. in the UK, Germany, Italy), the USA, and Brazil. Resistance of Parascaris equorum to macrocyclic lactones has also been reported in numerous countries. Cross-resistance among all macrocyclic lactones used in horses (mainly abamectin, doramectin, ivermectin, moxidectin) must be assumed.
- OUTLOOK. Problems are likely to worsen everywhere. Resistance will continue to spread and to strengthen, because little is done in most regions to reduce their use and to encourage non-chemical control and prevention.
- RECOMMENDED MEASURES. The most recommended measure is to switch to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and/or to implement whatever preventative measures that reduce the use of any chemicals. Where alternative chemicals of other chemical classes are still working against these worms, rotation is usually a good option, i.e. to stop using macrocyclic lactones and to use other products of still effective chemical classes during several years. However, these worms have already developed resistance to some of the alternative chemical classes as well.
- ALTERNATIVE PARASITICIDES for ROTATION.
- Benzimidazoles (e.g. febantel, fenbendazole, oxibendazole, mebendazole, etc.). Resistance of cyathostomins to benzimidazoles is already very frequent and high as well. In a survey from 2009, resistance to benzimidazoles was confirmed in >80% of the investigated yards in UK and Germany. It is known to be also quite frequent in the US, Australia, India and in many other countries, including Latin America.
- Tetrahydropyrimidines (mainly pyrantel). They are not effective against some important gastrointestinal worm species (narrow spectrum of activity). Cases of resistance of cyathostomins to pyrantel have been reported in Europe and the USA, but so far it is much less frequent and severe than resistance to benzimidazoles. Cases of resistance of Parascaris spp to pyrantel have been reported in Sweden (2018). For the time being resistance of these horse parasites to pyrantel seems not to be an issue in most regions.
- Piperazine derivatives. Piperazine is a narrow-spectrum anthelmintic used in pets and livestock effective against some gastrointestinal roundworms (particularly against ascarids, e.g. Parascaris equorum).
- Other anthelmintics such as levamisole and closantel that may still control these worms are not available for horses in most countries.
Where available, follow national or regional recommendations for delaying resistance development or for handling already confirmed cases.
In the context of resistance management it must also be considered that innovation in the field of livestock parasiticides has strongly decreased in the last decades.
- The last "new" nematicides for cattle and horses (macrocyclic lactones) was introduced in the 1980s, for sheep and goats in the early 2000s (monepantel, derquantel).
- The last "new" tickicide for cattle (fluazuron belonging to the benzoylphenyl ureas) was introduced in the 1990s.
- The last "new" ectoparasiticides for sheep (dicyclanil, spinosad) were introduced in the 1990s.
- The last "new" flukicide for cattle and sheep (triclabendazole) was introduced in the 1970s.
This means that the likelihood that new chemical classes with new modes of action against resistant parasites become available is quite slim. The reason is that, in the last decades, almost all animal health companies have focused their R&D investments in the much more profitable business of pet parasiticides. As a consequence, regarding resistance management in livestock and horses, almost nothing really new (i.e. with a new mode of action) has been introduced in the last decades: all new products (mostly new formulations or mixtures) have been basically "more of the same".
If you want to learn more about resistance, read one of the following articles in this site:
- Resistance Basics: what is resistance, types of resistance, etc.
- Resistance Development: how does resistance develop and what drives it.
- Resistance Diagnosis: how to find out whether a product failure is due to resistance or not.
- Resistance Prevention and Management: how to prevent, delay or manage resistance.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A global approach to parasite control without relying only on chemicals.
Cick here to get to the section on RESISTANCE in this site.