Efficacy and duration of action of oral fluralaner and spot-on moxidectin/imidacloprid in cats infested with Lynxacarus radovskyi.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lynxacarus radovskyi has been observed in cats in Malaysia; previously treatment with fipronil and moxidectin/imidacloprid spot-on has been described. OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of two spot-on treatments of moxidectin/imidacloprid, two&#xa0;weeks apart to a single oral dose of fluralaner against Lynxacarus radovskyi and evaluate time to re-infestation. METHODS: Thirty cats were assigned to three groups of ten cats each. Group 1 received one 250&#xa0;mg fluralaner tablet. Group 2 received two doses of moxidectin/imidacloprid spot-on two&#xa0;weeks apart. Group 3 consisted of untreated controls. For each cat, three plucks of about 50 hairs each were collected from three sites (dorsal neck, lateral thigh and perineal/tail region) for a total of nine pluckings every two&#xa0;weeks. Severity of infestation was scored from 0 (no parasite), to 1 (only nonhatched eggs), 2 (both hatched and nonhatched eggs), 3 (<50 mites) and 4 (>50 mites). Efficacy was compared between treatment groups and over time in the same group, and results analysed statistically. Re-infestation was defined as the identification of new eggs or mites on hair pluckings. RESULTS: Moxidectin/imidacloprid spot-on and oral fluralaner achieved 100% eradication within 28&#xa0;days. No significant difference was observed between groups 1 and 2; re-infestation occurred by Day 56 in both treatment groups. CONCLUSION: A single dose of oral fluralaner or two moxidectin/imidacloprid spot-on treatments two&#xa0;weeks apart are efficacious in the eradication of L.&#xa0;radovskyi in cats and able to prevent re-infestation for at least 42&#xa0;days post-treatment.