title: Helminth control in kennels: is the combination of milbemycin oxime and praziquantel a right choice?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kennel dogs are at the high risk of infections with intestinal and extra-intestinal helminths. Therefore, regular parasitological surveillance, appropriate treatment strategies and high quality standard of hygiene are required to guarantee the health and welfare of kennel dogs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of helminth control in kennels using different broad-spectrum anthelmintics that are routinely used in canine veterinary practice. Particular attention was given to the field efficacy and ease-of-use of each product.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in 3 public kennels in the Campania region (southern Italy). Eighteen boxes from each of the three kennels were selected for treatment based on faecal egg counts (FECs) at Day -30. The treatments were conducted using tablets containing combinations of: i) milbemycin oxime and praziquantel (Milbemax®); ii) pyrantel embonate, febantel and praziquantel (Drontal Plus Flavour®), and; iii) pyrantel pamoate, oxantel pamoate and praziquantel (Nemex® POP). All dogs were treated on Day 0 and sampled on Days 0, 7, 14 and 21 for copromicroscopic analyses. The FLOTAC dual technique on pooled samples was used with efficacy determined by reduction in FECs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At Day -30 intestinal nematodes (hookworms, Toxocara, Trichuris) and cestodes (Dypilidium caninum) were found. Milbemax® showed 100% efficacy against all the helminths in all the kennels. Drontal Plus Flavour® was 100% effective against hookworms in all the kennels but gave lower efficacy against T. canis (range=97.1-100%) and T. vulpis (range=95.6-100%). Nemex® POP was also 100% effective against hookworms in all kennels but less effective against T. canis (range=95.7-100%) and T. vulpis (range=95.7-100%). All three drugs were 100% effective against D.caninum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Milbemax®was fully effective against all the helminthes and was palatable and ease-of-use for all the dogs. It is the optimum choice for the treatment and prevention of helminth infections in kennel dogs under field conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Naples, Regione Campania, Italy. lrinaldi@unina.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Naples, Regione Campania, Italy. saverio.pennacchio@unina.it.
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pennacchio
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy. musella@unicz.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Musella
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Naples, Regione Campania, Italy. mariapaola.maurelli@unina.it.
authors.forename: Maria Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Maurelli
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health, Rome, Italy. francesco.la_torre@novartis.com.|Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza A. Moro, 45, 64100, Teramo, Italy. francesco.la_torre@novartis.com.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: La Torre
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Naples, Regione Campania, Italy. cringoli@unina.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cringoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D007558:Italy; D018942:Macrolides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D018942:Macrolides; C078973:milbemycin oxime; D011223:Praziquantel