A new study shows that the veterinary antiparasitic product BUTOX 7.5 pour on (deltamethrin) protects cattle during wet conditions against biting midges (Culicoides). These insects are responsible for the transmission of the bluetongue virus.

Previously, only the efficacy deltamethrin  proved in dry weather and animal shelter. The research, which was supported by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, was performed at the Department of Parasitology of the Heinrich-Heine University in Düsseldorf (Germany) and has been published in the November 2009 issue of Parasitology Research.

Methods
Cattle and sheep of a single application children BUTOX ® and then thoroughly wet twice a week. After a period of 4 weeks of hair cut leg, near the paw.
Midges where then exposed to the clipped hair and the time to death of the midges after exposure to deltamethrin was recorded.

Conclusion
Deltamethrin  remained effective - killing all exposed insects - during wet conditions for at least four weeks, although in sheep the average time to midge death was longer in animals exposed to wet conditions as compared to animals in dry conditions.

“This finding is highly encouraging as it shows that deltamethrin protects cattle and sheep in rainy weather conditions as well, which is particularly relevant in situations when vaccination against bluetongue virus is not feasible such as with emergence of new serotypes of the virus,” explains Dr. Heinz Mehlhorn, study director at the Heinrich-Heine University.