A single dose of topical moxidectin as an effective treatment for murine acariasis due to Myocoptes musculinus.

Abstract

Murine fur mites are reported to exist in over one-third of research institutions and can be problematic to eliminate. Current treatment strategies can be labor-intensive, toxic, and may confound research studies. The ideal method would be technically simple, safe, effective, and relatively inexpensive. When we found that mice from a noncommercial vendor were infested with Myocoptes musculinus, the animals were treated topically with Cydectin pour-on (containing moxidectin 0.5%) at 0.5 [corrected] mg/kg. After one treatment, mites were eradicated from all infested mice. No toxic effects or clinical signs of illness were observed in the mice. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of topical moxidectin as a treatment for murine acariasis.