Organophosphates, parasitic

Suggested Alternatives for Differential Diagnosis Anthrax, tetanus, rabies, meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral trypanosomiasis, piroplasmosis, theileriosis, listeriosis, parasitism poisoning by strychnine, lead, organophosphates, arsenic, and various plants that affect the central nervous system. 

Haloxon is probably the safest of the organophosphate anthelminthics (37). It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in sheep, cattle, and goats at a dosage of 30-50 mg/kg bw. It is not intended for use in swine and poultry, although certain parasites can be very effectively controlled by the drug in these hosts. It is usually administered orally in the form of a paste, bolus, drench, or liquid suspension, and as a feed premix for poultry. 

Coumaphos, like other organophosphates, was originally developed as a pesticide for treatment of external parasites of animals, but later came to be used... 

Dichlorvos is a particularly versatile organophosphate since it can be incorporated as a plasticizer into polyvinyl chloride resin pellets and can be released slowly from the undigestible pellets as they pass through the digestive tract. This allows for a therapeutic concentration against parasites all along the digestive tract. 

The Federal Animal Welfare Act (PL 89-544) requires that animal food be stored in facilities which protect it from infestation or contamination by vermin (wild rodents, birds, and insects). Food can be stored in individual animal rooms in vermin-proof containers with lids, such as plastic garbage containers. Ideally, bulk-food shipments should be stored in a room or warehouse where the temperature can be maintained at less than 70"F and the relative humidity at 50% or less. The room should have doors that prevent the entry of rodents or birds. Vermin control is important since wild rodents, birds, and insects can contaminate stored feed with bacteria, viruses, or parasites which could adversely affect laboratory animal health. Pesticides should not be used to control vermin in this area while food supplies are present contamination of food with pesticides can seriously affect experimental results in animals. Boric acid powder can be placed along the walls to control cockroaches, without the negative experimental impact of organophosphate insecticides. 

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