A combination of doxycycline and ivermectin is adulticidal in dogs with naturally acquired heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis).
Canine heartworm disease is caused by infection with Dirofilaria immitis, a filarial nematode that resides in the pulmonary arteries and occasionally in the right heart chambers of infected dogs. Here the authors evaluated the effect of a combination of doxycycline (10 mg/kg/sid for 30 days) and ivermectin–pyrantel(6μg/kg [DOSAGE ERROR CORRECTED] of ivermectin+5mg/kg of pyrantel every 15 days for 180 days) on microfilariemia, antigenemia and parasite load at echocardiography in naturally infected dogs from an endemic region of Italy. Dogs were examined monthly for 6 months and followed-up 4 months later. One hundred percent of dogs became negative for circulating microfilariae by day 90, while 8/11 (72.7%) of dogs became antigen-negative by day 300. Of the 7 dogs that were positive for visualization of parasites at echocardiography, 6 (85.7%) became negative by day 300. Treatment was well-tolerated by all dogs. These results suggest that a combination of doxycycline and ivermectin is adulticide in dogs with D. immitis.
Grandi
G
G
Dipt. di Salute Animale, Università degli Studi di Parma, via del Taglio 10, 43100 Parma, Italy.
Quintavalla
C
C
Mavropoulou
A
A
Genchi
M
M
Gnudi
G
G
Bertoni
G
G
Kramer
L
L
D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D007559:Ivermectin; D004318:Doxycycline