Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Moxidectin injection prevents heartworm in dogs for 12 months
By Lok, James B et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2005·Department of Pathobiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Efficacy of an injectable, sustained-release formulation of moxidectin in preventing experimental heartworm infection in mongrel dogs challenged 12 months after administration.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of adult mixed-breed dogs received a single injection of a long-lasting heartworm prevention medication called moxidectin to see if it would protect them from heartworm infection for a full year. After 12 months, the dogs were exposed to heartworm larvae, and none of the dogs that received moxidectin had any heartworms, while those that received a saline solution had an average of 35 heartworms. Some dogs had small, firm lumps at the injection site, but these went away over time, and there were no signs of pain or other side effects. This study shows that a single injection of moxidectin can effectively prevent heartworm infection in dogs for a year.
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Abstract
The objective of this study was to ascertain the ability of a single subcutaneous injection of a sustained-release (SR) formulation of moxidectin to protect dogs against challenge inoculation with infective Dirofilaria immitis larvae 364 days after administration. Twenty four purpose-bred adult mixed-breed dogs were grouped into three blocks of eight based on weight and sex. Saline solution (0.9% NaCl) or a moxidectin SR formulation at volumes designed to deliver 0.17 or 0.27 mg moxidectin/kg b.w. was injected subcutaneously on day 0. Throughout the post-treatment period, injection sites of all dogs were periodically examined visually and by palpation. Palpable swellings were characterized as to size, consistency and the presence of associated pain or erythema. On day 364, each dog was inoculated subcutaneously with 50 D. immitis L3. On days 510 and 511, dogs were euthanatized, and their hearts, lungs and thoracic cavities were inspected for the presence of adult heartworms. number, sex and viability of recovered heartworms were determined. The mean number of heartworms recovered from dogs that had received the saline control injection was 35.7. No heartworms were recovered from any dog treated with either 0.17 or 0.27 mg moxidectin/kg b.w. For variable periods of time following treatment, small (1-4 mm diameter), firm, subcutaneous swellings could be palpated at the injection sites of dogs treated with 0.17 or 0.27 mg moxidectin/kg b.w. These swellings contracted progressively and eventually disappeared except for the case of one animal treated with 0.27 mg/kg, in which the swelling persisted for the entire study period. At no time during the study was pain or erythema noted at the injection site of any dog, and no dog exhibited any adverse systemic reaction related to treatment. We conclude that under conditions pertaining in this study, a single subcutaneous injection of a moxidectin SR formulation at dosing rates of either 0.17 or 0.27 mg/kg b.w. can safely protect adult dogs against experimental challenge inoculation with infective heartworm larvae for a period of 12 months.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15725542/