Sarcoptic mange in rabbits: Ivermectin plus turmeric

Scientists Confirm HEALTH Benefits of Turmeric Extract for Rabbits

Sarcoptic mange (or sarcoptic mange) is a common and highly contagious disease of rabbits. The infection causes severe itching and scabies on the inside of the ears and external auditory canal, and also reduces growth and increases the rate of oxidative stress.

In rabbits, chronic cases of sarcoptic mange can cause anorexia, lethargy, malnutrition, and even death. The disease is considered economically important in industrial rabbit production, where ivermectin is used for treatment.

Intravenous infusion subcutaneously once every 2 weeks 2–3 times at a dose of 0.2–0.4 mg/kg body weight is generally a simple, safe and effective treatment for scarcoptic mange. However, some farms increase the dose to 400 mcg/kg subcutaneously at weekly intervals for 3 weeks.

Recently, in veterinary medicine, the possibility of combining ivermectin with turmeric to improve the miticidal efficacy of the drug and increase the immunity of animals has been considered.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial plant belonging to the ginger family that is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine in India. Turmeric contains three different compounds: curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and methoxycurcumin, all known as curcuminoids.

Curcumin is responsible for most of the plant's medicinal properties, including antiprotozoal, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other beneficial effects.

Turmeric has a wide range of health benefits at a low cost, and due to its high vitamin and mineral content, it is also used as a nutritional supplement in livestock to improve feed intake, nutrient absorption and growth performance in rabbits.

A group of Egyptian scientists carried out relevant tests at the Rabbit Research Department of the Nubariya Experimental Station at the Animal Research Institute of the Agricultural Research Center in Alexandria.

To prepare an aqueous extract, turmeric was mixed with 1 L of distilled water, boiled for 20 minutes, and passed through a rotary evaporator. The curcumin concentration obtained was 4.5mg/100mg Curcuma longa aqueous extract.

Rabbits affected by sarcoptic mange received different treatment regimens - the group with ivermectin served as a control. Based on the results, the animals from the group receiving ivermectin plus 1 and 2 mg of an aqueous solution of turmeric showed the best progress in recovery. Thus, the hypothesis is confirmed that turmeric extract has strong antioxidant properties and can be used as an additional agent simultaneously with ivermectin in the treatment of clinical rabbit sarcoptic mange. In addition, no side effects were observed in rabbits supplemented with turmeric extract, and the dosage regimen for these supplements was found to be safe.