Efficacy of levamisole against natural Ascaris suum infection in pigs

Fourteen piglets (<3 month of age) showed weakness, inappetance, and pneumonia like symptoms i.e. dyspnoea, and cough. Ten died in a span of seven days and necropsy studies revealed presence of fibrotic sports on the liver, petechial haemorrhages on lungs and small immature worms in the intestine. Faecal examination of three sows revealed heavy infection of ascarid eggs. Four morbid piglets were administered levamisole @ 8 mg/kg body weight orally and 1 ml of injection dirophyllin. On day 3 post-treatment animal showed signs of recovery. Adult animals after treatment with levamisole @ 8 mg/kg body weight orally revealed no parasitic eggs on day 7, 14, 30, and 60 days post treatment. The study revealed that ascarids can cause high mortality and morbidity in piglets when housed in the same pen with their dams and levamisole @ 8 mg/kg body weight is effective anthelmantic against immature and mature ascarids in pigs.