Treated with Zimectrin Gold - how long until we can eat eggs?

[mtma]

Hello. We found live tapeworms in the poop of at least one of our 8 hens. We treated all 8 with Zimectrin Gold (pea-sized), then waited 10 days and treated a second time. It has been two weeks since the second treatment. I am wondering when it is safe to eat the eggs. I am concerned about my family getting eggs tainted with medication, so if it's safer to wait longer we're willing to. Thank you!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm sure it is fine by now in regards to human safety.

Unless someone in your family is highly sensitive to the drugs, both of which are used in human beings (Ivermectin and Praziquantal), at far greater concentrations than what you could possibly get in the eggs, the "wait times" are mostly for legal purposes.

Since the FDA hasn't approved the drug for laying hens, and thus had studies done for residue amount and effect (mind you most of the chicken worming medicine is used in people too), then the wait times for "off label" meds are so that no residue can be found in the eggs to protect you from any FDA legal action should someone become sick from your eggs and sue you....your eggs would be tested, and if found with "illegal" residue, you could become liable for any FDA sanction.

I have read a residue study that indicated Ivermectin was at its highest 5 days after treatment and clear from eggs at day 7.

I've not read studies on praziquental, but the one dose treatment for children is anywhere from 5 to 100 mg/kg....some treatments are repeated over a month.

http://www.farad.org/publications/miscellaneous/LayingHensEggResidues.pdf

https://reference.medscape.com/drug/biltricide-praziquantel-342666

So after 2 weeks, I doubt there is much left in the eggs.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[mtma]

Thank you very much for this thoughtful reply. It is very helpful.

I'm sure it is fine by now in regards to human safety.

Unless someone in your family is highly sensitive to the drugs, both of which are used in human beings (Ivermectin and Praziquantal), at far greater concentrations than what you could possibly get in the eggs, the "wait times" are mostly for legal purposes.

Since the FDA hasn't approved the drug for laying hens, and thus had studies done for residue amount and effect (mind you most of the chicken worming medicine is used in people too), then the wait times for "off label" meds are so that no residue can be found in the eggs to protect you from any FDA legal action should someone become sick from your eggs and sue you....your eggs would be tested, and if found with "illegal" residue, you could become liable for any FDA sanction.

I have read a residue study that indicated Ivermectin was at its highest 5 days after treatment and clear from eggs at day 7.

I've not read studies on praziquental, but the one dose treatment for children is anywhere from 5 to 100 mg/kg....some treatments are repeated over a month.

http://www.farad.org/publications/miscellaneous/LayingHensEggResidues.pdf

https://reference.medscape.com/drug/biltricide-praziquantel-342666

So after 2 weeks, I doubt there is much left in the eggs.

My thoughts.
LofMc