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1613793 
Journal Article 
Selamectin tolerance in Taeniopygia guttata with Sternostoma tracheacolum 
Bishop, CR; Mccoy, B; Peter, B 
2007 
251-255 
WOS:000255991900040 
Air sac mites have been a plague to the passerine birds that serve as hosts. The lack of an effective treatment and control of these mites has been a frustration for veterinarians, aviculturists, and pet bird owners for many years. The unique lifecycle of air sac mites, in combination with the complex avian respiratory system, have made it difficult to eliminate the parasite from aviaries. Many older treatments have had dangerous toxic effects on the birds themselves; however, newer antiparasitics have brought promise of a safer method of control. The avermectins are a group of antiparasitic drugs that have been safely and effectively used in many mammals for the treatment of mites. This study evaluated the tolerance of topically administered selamectin in 3 groups of 10 zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Birds in each group were given selamectin at 23, 46, and 92 mg/kg. A fourth group of 10 birds, the controls, received the carrier of selamectin (isopropyl alcohol). Selamectin did not cause neurological signs at any of the 3 dosages used (23, 46, and 92 mg/kg) tested in this study. There were no deaths and no significant differences found in the clinical samples that were tested between any of the 4 groups. The topical application of selamectin to zebra finches appears to be safe at the dosages tested in this study.