Ivermectin: a potent new antiparasitic agent [Nematode and arthropod parasites]

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1983-08, Vol.221 (4613), p.823-828
• Main Authors: CAMPBELL, W. C, FISHER, M. H, STAPLEY, E. O, ALBERS-SCHONBERG, G, JACOB, T. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anthelmintics; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiparasitic agents; Antiparasitics; Arthropods; Arthropods - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Control; Dogs; Dosage; Helminths; Humans; Insecticides - therapeutic use; Ivermectin; Lactones - metabolism; Lactones - pharmacology; Lactones - therapeutic use; Medical sciences; Microbiological research; Nematode Infections - drug therapy; Nematodes; Parasite hosts; Parasites; Parasitism; Parasitological research; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Streptomyces - physiology; Structure-Activity Relationship; Swine; Synaptic Transmission - drug effects; Ticks; Veterinary medicine; Worms, Intestinal and parasitic
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.6308762

Ivermectin is the 22,23-dihydro derivative of avermectin B$_{1}$, a macrocyclic lactone produced by an actinomycete, Streptomyces avermitilis. It is active at extremely low dosage against a wide variety of nematode and arthropod parasites, apparently by virtue of its action on the mediation of neurotransmission by γ-aminobutyric acid. It is now in commercial use in various countries for the treatment and control of parasites in cattle, horses, and sheep, and is expected to become available for use in swine and dogs. Since studies with the drug in man are in a preliminary stage, it is not yet known whether ivermectin will be useful in human medicine.