Reproductive evaluation of male Beagles and the safety of ivermectin

Abstract

Ivermectin had no adverse effects on spermatogenesis, fertility, or reproductive performance of Beagle dogs when administered orally at 600 micrograms/kg (0.6 mg/kg) of body weight monthly for 8 treatments. Semen was collected every 3 days from 28 days before treatment began until 83 days thereafter from 6 ivermectin-treated Beagles and 6 similar water-treated controls (38 collections/dog). All dogs were then bred to 2 nontreated bitches each; litter size, birth weights, and pup abnormalities and mortalities were evaluated. After all pups were whelped, each dog was euthanatized and necropsied, and the testis and epididymis were examined microscopically.