Title: Degradation of abamectin and doramectin in sheep faeces under different experimental conditions

Authors: Lucija Kolar, Nevenka Kozuh Erzen

Addresses: Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ljubljana, Gerbiceva 60, SI 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. ' Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ljubljana, Gerbiceva 60, SI 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract: Avermectins is the collective name given to a range of animal health products used in the prevention of parasitosis. Residues of these drugs retain their insecticidal properties after excretion in livestock faeces. We investigated the degradation of abamectin and doramectin in sheep faeces under the laboratory and field conditions. In the first two, out of three experiments, we exposed collective abamectin or doramectin contaminated and homogenised faeces samples to laboratory (UV light; l = 370 nm) and to field conditions on sheep pasture (exposed on the plate or put directly on the soil). The third experiment focused on degradation of both avermectins excreted via sheep faeces directly to the pasture. The degradation of both substances was evident in both cases, either under laboratory or under field conditions. The results show that degradation process is affected by physical properties of the faeces and weather conditions.

Keywords: abamectin; doramectin; degradation; sheep faeces; different experimental conditions; avermectins; parasitosis prevention; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2007.015660

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2007 Vol.31 No.1/2, pp.22 - 33

Published online: 07 Nov 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article