EWEGUARD 6 in 1 Vaccine & Wormer Injection for SHEEP - ZOETIS - moxidectin 0.5%, macrocyclic lactone + vaccine

Brand: EWEGUARD ® 6 in 1 Vaccine & Wormer

Company: ZOETIS

FORMULATION: «injectable» to be administered subcutaneoulsy.

ACTIVE INGREDIENT(S): moxidectin 5 mg/mL (=0.5%)

  • + antigens of enterotoxaemia (pulpy kidney) (Cl. perfringens type D), blackleg (Cl. chauvoei), malignant oedema (Cl. septicum), black disease (Cl. novyi type B), tetanus (Cl. tetani), and caseous lymphadenitis (‘lympho’ or cheesy gland) [C. pseudotuberculosis (ovis)]: for the vaccination of adult stock only.

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*

  • Sheep: 1 mg/25 kg bw, equivalent to 1 ml/20 kg bw
    • For animals up to 50 kg liveweight give 2 mL subcutaneously
    • For animals over 50 kg liveweight give 1 mL per 25 kg subcutaneously
  • Read the product label for further details on dosing and for the appropriate Vaccination Programme

* Can be slightly different in some countries: read the product label!

SAFETY

  • LD50 (acute oral) in rats: 106 mg/kg (for the a.i. moxidectin)
  • stimated hazard class according to the WHO: not applicable for veterinary medicines

Suspected poisoning? Read the article on moxidectin safety in this site.

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

  • Meat: New Zealand: 49 days
  • Milk: New Zealand: Milk intended for sale for human consumption must be discarded during treatment and for not less than 49 days following the last treatment.

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

RESISTANCE PREVENTION

Risk of resistance? YES, in gastrointestinal roundworms in sheep (very high), goats (very high) particularly in Haemonchus spp, Ostertagia spp /Teladorsagia spp, Trichostrongylus spp, Nematodirus spp, Chabertia ovina

Resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to macrocyclic lactones in sheep, goats and cattle has been reported in numerous countries. Most cases have been reported for ivermectin, and moxidectin often works well against ivermectin-resistant worms initially. But if moxidectin use continues gastrointestinal roundworms will become resistant to it rather quickly. Based on the very abundant and frequent use of ivermectin and other macrocyclic lactones in livestock (with more-or-less cross-resistance to ivermectin) it must be assumed that resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to this chemical class will continue spreading and strengthening in the future.

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 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 injectables.

Learn more about resistance and how it develops.

MARKETING

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

  • MOXIDECTIN: GENERIC

*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: New Zealand
GENERIC BRANDS available? Rather few in combination with vaccines.

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

For an overview on the most used antiparasitic injectable brands for livestock click here.

COMMENTS

EWEGUARD 6 in 1 Vaccine & Wormer for Sheep from ZOETIS is a so far rather unusual injectable combinatin of 0.5% moxidectin with clostridial vaccines. Currently there are two very similar formulations available, EWEGUARD PLUS SELENIUM (with additional 2.5 mg/mL Selenium) and EWEGUARD PLUS SE B12 (with additional 1.0 mg/mL Selesium and 1.0 mg/mL vitamin B12) with no additional anthelmintic efficacy.

Moxidectin is a macrocyclic lactone introduced in the 1990s (by AMERICAN CYANAMID). It is moderately used in livestock and pets, but not in agriculture. Its spectrum of activity is similar to the one of  ivermectin, i.e. basically roundworms and certain external parasites (mites, lice, etc.). As all other macrocyclic lactones moxidectin is not effective against tapeworms and flukes. Moxidectin is generally considered as more potent than ivermectin against gastrointestinal nematodes of livestock, particularly in sheep and goats, and against a few other livestock pests (e.g. sheep scab, cattle ticks, etc.). It is also less toxic than ivermectin, which makes it possible to use it at higher rates, particularly in long-acting formulations. Moxidectin is moderately used in livestock and horses, but rather scarcely in pets. It is not used in agriculture.

There are other formulations for topical (pour-on) and oral (drench) administration, mainly for cattle and/or sheep. So far there are no moxidectin products for use on swine.

Being an excellent antiparasitic, comparable to ivermectin, moxidectin does not control all parasites of livestock. Unfortunately advertising and even the label of some generic formulations in less developed countries often include unsubstantiated claims. To help preventing confusion and misuse it is useful to know that whatever moxidectin 2% injectable used at the recommended dose DOES NOT CONTROL:

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.

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