Efficacy of oral, topical and extended-release injectable formulations of moxidectin combined with doxycycline in Dirofilaria immitis naturally infected dogs

Parasites & Vectors

Research

Laura Kramer¹  Alice Vismarra¹  Marco Genchi¹  Giuseppe Cringoli²  Leonardo Meomartino²  Dario Constanza²  Laura Rinaldi²  Lavinia Ciuca²  Paolo Ciaramella²  Antonio Di Loria² 

[1] Department of Veterinary Medicine Sciences, University of Parma, Strada del Taglio, 10, 43126, Parma, Italy;Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via Federico Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy;

关键词: Dirofilaria immitis;    Moxidectin;    Doxycycline;    Spot-on;    Oral;    Injectable;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13071-023-05673-9

 received in 2022-11-02, accepted in 2023-01-16,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSeveral studies in both experimentally and naturally infected dogs have reported the adulticide effect of a combination of macrocyclic lactones and doxycycline against Dirofilaria immitis, showing that these protocols can be used as an alternative to melarsomine. The present study evaluated the efficacy of oral, topical and extended-release injectable formulations of moxidectin when combined with doxycycline in dogs naturally infected with D. immitis from a shelter located in southern Italy.MethodsThirty dogs with naturally acquired D. immitis infection were divided in three groups (G) and treated with oral moxidectin (G1) once a month for 9 consecutive months, topical moxidectin (G2) once a month for 9 consecutive months or extended release moxidectin injectable (G3) at enrolment and again at 6 months (Day 180). All treatment groups received doxycycline for the first 30 days. Microfilarial concentrations in 1 ml (mff/ml) blood were determined monthly for 9 months with the modified Knott’s test. A clinical scoring system was employed for each dog enrolled in the study based on thoracic radiography and cardiac ultrasound (CU) examinations performed at Day − 15 (before treatment) and at Day 180.ResultsResults from the present study suggest that the majority of dogs from all treatment groups became antigen negative, as evaluated at Day 270: 9/10 dogs (90.0%) from G1, 6/10 dogs (60.0%) from G2 and 8/10 dogs (80.0%) from G3. Improvement of radiographic alterations was observed in all treatment groups, and almost all dogs were cleared of pulmonary abnormalities by 6 months from the beginning of treatment (P = 0.000). Cardiac ultrasound examination showed a progressive improvement of cardiac function in a limited number of animals (4/30).ConclusionsThe combination of doxycycline and three different formulations of moxidectin leads to antigen-negative status in naturally infected dogs.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

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