Brand: PARAMAX MCS (Multipurpose Concentrate)

Company: COOPERS (MERCK AH - INTERVET)


FORMULATION: «drench» for oral administration, or concentrate for jetting.

ACTIVE INGREDIENT(S)ivermectin 16 g/L (= 1.6%)

CHEMICAL CLASS of the active ingredient(s): macrocyclic lactone


INDICATIONS: SHEEP

PARASITES CONTROLLED* (spectrum of activity)

* Country-specific differences may apply: read the product label.


RECOMMENDED DOSE*

* Read the product label for further details on dosing and administration.

Use as a drench:

  • Dilute 1:20 in water, e.g. 250 ml of product to 5 L oral drench water resulting in a concentration of 0.08% ivermectin  (0.8 g/L)
  • Administer at a dose of 2.5 mL dilution per 10 kg bodyweight

Use as a jetting fluid:

  • Dilution rate 1:500, e.g. 50 mL of concentrate in 25 L water (equivalent to 32 mg/L = 32 ppm)
  • Jetting for blowfly strike: Apply at least 2.5 L diluted jetting fluid by hand jetting or Modified Harrington Jetting race. Ensure thoroughly saturated wool to skin level.
  • Hand Jetting for lice: When applied by hand jetting will treat biting lice until next shearing. Apply 0.5 L per month of wool growth ensuring fleece and skin are thoroughly wet to skin level.
  • Hand dressing struck sheep: Saturate struck area thoroughly. Clipping the area prior to treatment is recommended.


SAFETY

  • LD50 (acute oral) in rats: 50 mg/kg for the a.i. (source: MSDS)
  • LD50 (acute dermal) in rats: >660 mg/kg for the a.i. (source: MSDS)
  • Estimated hazard class of the formulation according to the WHO classification of pesticides: II moderately hazardous.

Withholding periods (=withdrawal times) for meat, milk & shearing (country-specific differences may apply: read the product label)

After jetting:

  • Meat: 7 days (ESI = 7 days)
  • Milk: Do not use in lactating sheep or within 28 days of lambing where milk or milk products may be used for human consumption
  • Shearing: 6 weeks.

After drenching:

  • Meat: 14 days (ESI = 21 days)
  • Milk: Do not use in lactating sheep or within 28 days of lambing where milk or milk products may be used for human consumption

WARNING !!!: Never use on humans, dogs or cats

You may be interested in the following articles in this site dealing with the general safety of veterinary products:


RESISTANCE PREVENTION

Risk of resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to macrocyclic lactones (incl. abamectin): YES, resistance in ruminants is a very serious and increasing problem worldwide, particularly in sheep and goats. The most affected worm species are: Haemonchus spp, Ostertagia spp /Teladorsagia spp, Trichostrongylus spp, Nematodirus spp, Chabertia ovina.

Resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to macrocyclic lactones (incl. abamectin) in sheep, goats and cattle has been reported almost worldwide, including the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Based on the very abundant and frequent use of ivermectin and other macrocyclic lactones (with cross-resistance to ivermectin) in livestock it must be assumed that resistance of these roundworms to this chemical class will continue spreading and strengthening in the future.

Alternative chemical classes/active ingredients to prevent resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms through product rotation:

These alternative products may not be available in all countries, or may not be available as drenches.

Risk of resistance in blowflies and lice? YES. There are no reports yet on resistance of body lice Bovicola (Damalinia) ovis to ivermectin. There are reports indicating cross-resistance with ivermectin in Lucilia cuprina diazinon and/or diflubenzuron resistant strains, although the resistance factors were low (2-3x). A ten-fold resistance to ivermectin was also achieved after laboratory selection of a Lucilia cuprina field strain over 30 generations. This strongly indicates that Lucilia cuprina field populations may develop resistance to ivermectin if submitted to sustained selection pressure with ivermectin.

This means that if this product does not achieve the expected efficacy against the mentioned parasites, it may be due to resistance and not to incorrect use, which is usually the most frequent cause of product failure.

Alternative chemical classes/active ingredients for product rotation to prevent resistance of body lice to ivermectin:

Alternative chemical classes/active ingredients for product rotation to prevent resistance of Lucilia cuprina to ivermectin:

These alternative products may not be available in all countries, or may not be available for jetting.

Learn more about resistance and how it develops.


MARKETING

Are the active ingredients of this product ORIGINAL* or GENERICS**?

  • GENERICS

*Meaning that they are still patent protected and generics are not yet available
**Meaning that they have lost patent protection and may be acquired from manufacturers of generic active ingredients other than the holder of the original patent.

COUNTRIES where this brand/product is marketed: Australia.
GENERIC BRANDS available? YES, a few ones in Australia, but either as a drench, or as a jetting fuid. This product itself contains generic ivermectin.

Click here to learn more about GENERIC vs. ORIGINAL drugs.

For an overview on the most used antiparasitic oral drenches click here, for concentrates for jetting click here.


COMMENTS

PARAMAX MCS is a rather unusual ivermectin formulation from COOPERS that can be used both as an oral drench or as a jetting fluid.

Ivermectin is the parasiticide for livestock and pets most widely used worldwide, with hundreds if not thousands of generic brands. It was introduced in the early 1980s (by MS&D AgVet). Ivermectin is probably the best veterinary parasiticide ever developed, highly effective against roundworms as well as against numerous external parasites (ticksflies, lice, mites, etc.), but not against tapeworms and flukes. Twelve weeks protection against blowfly strike is not outstanding compared with other products available against this parasite that may reach up to 24 weeks protection.

Click here for general information on good practices for the prevention and control of gastrointestinal worms in livestock.


DISCLAIMER

This article IS NOT A PRODUCT LABEL. It offers complementary information that may be useful to veterinary professionals and users that are not familiar with veterinary antiparasitics. 

Information offered in this article has been extracted from publications issued by manufacturers, government agencies (e.g. EMEA, FDA, USDA, etc.) or in the scientific literature. No guarantee is given on its accuracy, integrity, sufficiency, actuality and opportunity, and any liability is denied. Read the site's DISCLAIMER.

In case of doubt contact the manufacturer or a veterinary professional.