MSD Animal Health has announced the launch of EXZOLT, which it said was the first systemic treatment for poultry red mite infestations – a novel approach that virtually eliminates poultry red mites in production houses of any size or type, including free range.
The treatment is administered via drinking water, and the firm said it also improves poultry welfare by reducing stress associated with other forms of treatment, and minimises the exposure of workers and birds to chemical sprays.
“Poultry red mites are among the most threatening pests in Europe, contributing to increased stress levels, decreased weight gain and diminished egg quality and production in infested birds,” said Dr Taylor Barbosa, head of poultry, MSD Animal Health. “It is important to effectively treat poultry red mites as infestations not only affect the birds’ welfare, but also result in significant economic losses for poultry producers.”
Poultry red mites are a top five cause of economic loss in European layer and breeder operations and in many other countries, as infestations cause significant stress to poultry, decrease reproductive potential in males, egg production in females and weight gain in young birds. The total annual cost of poultry red mite infestations in the European egg laying industry is estimated to be €360 million, with more than 430 million hens in all production types – pullets, breeders and layer hens – suffering from infestations.
Poultry red mites are nocturnal feeders that hide during the day under manure, on roosts and in cracks and crevices in the chicken house, where they lay eggs, making them difficult to eliminate. Previously available treatment options are labor-intensive and/or have achieved limited success in eliminating or controlling infestations. Mite infestations affect poultry workers as well, causing gamasoidosis, a skin condition characterized by rash and itching.
The safety of EXZOLT has been established through comprehensive clinical research studies, MSD said. These studies demonstrated that EXZOLT virtually eliminates poultry red mites in production houses, and is safe for the birds and for human handling.
EXZOLT is a based on the fluralaner molecule for the treatment of poultry red mite infestations, works on the parasites’ nervous system and kills mites that have taken a blood meal, while remaining safe for the host animal. Chickens are treated during an infestation. This ensures that both adult mites and their eggs are killed.
Clinical data from three European dose-confirmation studies and an extensive nine-site field study showed EXZOLT provided virtual elimination of poultry red mite populations in all treated layer, breeder and/or pullet houses.
In these studies, the recommended EXZOLT dosage regimen (0.5 mg/kg body weight twice at a seven-day interval) achieved 99% mite-killing efficacy for at least 15 days, which spans two mite life cycles. EXZOLT starts working in mites within four hours after mites start to feed on treated chickens resulting in effective elimination of the mites, MSD said.