If endoparasite infestation is suspected or there is a history of feeding with earthworms - intermediate hosts of the gapeworm - prophylactic deworming of the swift should be performed. Oral administration of Fenbendazole ("Panacur Suspension") against roundworms and hairworms as well as Praziquantel ("Droncit", "Cestocur") against tapeworms is suitable.
Ectoparasites such as the blood-sucking swift louse fly (Crataerina pallida) and feather lice are best removed manually. Only when they occur in larger numbers on a swift is treatment with a powder suitable for birds ("Bolfo Powder", Pyrethrum-containing agents) indicated. Caution: Most insecticides used in small animal practice are toxic to birds!
For the not yet more closely specified sucking mites that parasitise in the nose of the swift, treatment with Ivermectin ("Ivomec S") using the spot-on method is indicated. The preparation was well tolerated, but in individual cases mites reappeared in the nose even after treatment was completed. Transmission of sucking mite larvae through the human finger during feeding by contact with the pharyngeal mucosa is suspected. The larvae can enter the oral cavity through the choanal slit.
| Active Ingredient | Dosage | Trade Name | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fenbendazole | 10 mg/kg p.o. SID 3d, repeat after 10d |
Panacur Suspension 2.5% |
Hoechst AG |
| Praziquantel | 10 mg/kg p.o., 1x repeat after 10d |
Doxon, "Droncit" | Bayer Vital |
| Ivermectin | 1 drop spot on 1x, repeat after 10d if needed |
Ivomec S | Merial |
| Propoxur | topical, 1x | Bolfo Powder | Bayer Vital |