Treatment of lungworm infection in cats with imidacloprid

Abstract

The nematode Capillaria aerophila (Trichuroidea, Trichuridae) affects the respiratory system of cats and other animals and occasionally of human beings. Infected cats may show bronchovesicular sounds, inflammation, sneezing, wheezing and, chronic cough and, sometimes, bronchopneumonia and respiratory failure. The present study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the antiparasitic spot-on formulation containing imidacloprid 10%/moxidectin 1 % (Advocate®, Bayer Animal Health) in the treatment of natural feline infection with the lungworm C. aerophila. The efficacy of Advocate® administered once was tested on days 7 ± 1 and 11 ± 1 following treatment at day 0 and compared to faecal egg counts on days -6 ± 1 and -2 ± 1. Overall, 36 cats treated either with Advocate® (treatment group, n = 17 cats) or left untreated (control group, n = 19 cats) were included in the study. Geometric means of faecal egg counts values in eggs per gram of faeces were 124.03 prior to treatment and 0.26 posttreatment in treatment group, while 107.03 and 123.94 pre- and posttreatment in the untreated cats. Post-baseline egg counts showed a 99.79 % reduction in Advocate®-treated animals in comparison with cats which were left untreated. Also, treated cats showed no adverse events. This trial demonstrated that Advocate® spot-on formulation is safe and effective in the treatment of feline lung capillariosis caused by C. aerophila.