If endoparasite infestation is suspected, or if there is a history of feeding earthworms - intermediate hosts of the gapeworm - a prophylactic deworming of the swift should be carried out. Suitable is the oral administration of fenbendazole ("Panacur Suspension") against roundworms and whipworms, as well as praziquantel ("Droncit", "Cestocur") against tapeworms.
Ectoparasites such as the blood-sucking swift louse fly (Crataerina pallida) and feather lice are best removed manually. Only when they occur on a swift in larger numbers 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!
Against the as yet unspecified sucking mites that parasitise the swift's nasal passages, 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 had been completed. Transmission of sucking mite larvae via the human finger during feeding, through contact with the pharyngeal mucosa, is suspected. The larvae can reach the oral cavity through the choanal slit.
Antiparasitics
Active ingredient | Dosage | Trade name | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
Fenbendazole | 10 mg/kg p.o. SID | Panacur- | Hoechst AG |
Praziquantel | 10 mg/kg p.o., 1x | Doxon, "Droncit" | Bayer Vital |
Ivermectin | 1 drop spot on | Ivomec S | Merial |
Propoxur | topical, 1x | Bolfo Powder | Bayer Vital |