The effect of pre-farrowing treatment of the sow with ivermectin on the early establishment of Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum spp in the progeny.

Residual infective Ascaris suum eggs in farrowing pens provide the initial source of infection for piglets under Swedish management conditions. In such circumstances there is little evidence to support pre-farrowing treatment of the sow specifically against A. suum. The present study shows, however, that ivermectin-treatment of the sow prevents the early establishment of A. suum and Oesophagostomum spp in her litter.