title: Efficacy of Broadline® spot-on against Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus brevior lungworms in naturally infected cats from Italy.
abstract: The increasing reports of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection and the new information on Troglostrongylus brevior have spurred the interest of the scientific community towards the research of pharmaceutical compounds effective against both pathogens. A novel topical combination of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel (Broadline®, Merial) has been released for the treatment of a variety of feline parasitic infections. The present study reports the efficacy of this spot-on in treating cats naturally infected by feline lungworms. Client owned cats (n=191) were enrolled from three geographical areas of Italy and faecal samples were examined by floatation and Baermann techniques. Twenty-three individuals were positive for L1 of A. abstrusus (n=18) or T. brevior (n=3) or for both species (n=2) and they were topically treated with Broadline®. Seventeen of them were also concomitantly infected by other parasites. Four weeks after treatment, faecal samples were collected and examined to assess the efficacy of a single administration of the product. Based on lungworm larvae counts, the efficacy of the treatment was 90.5% or 100% for A. abstrusus or T. brevior, respectively. Cats released significantly lower amounts of lungworm larvae after treatment compared to pre-treatment (p<0.0001). All but three cats were negative for other nematodes after treatment and all cats recovered from respiratory signs. Results of this study indicate that a single administration of the topical combination fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel is effective and safe for the treatment of A. abstrusus and/or T. brevior infections in cats living under field conditions.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannelli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brianti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varcasia
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colella
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tamponi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Paola
authors.affiliation: Merial GmbH, Kathrinenhof Research Center, Rohrdorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knaus
authors.affiliation: Merial SAS, Sanofi Pasteur Confluence, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Lénaïg
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Halos
authors.affiliation: Merial SAS, Sanofi Pasteur Confluence, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beugnet
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: domenico.otranto@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otranto
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008681:Metastrongyloidea; D008726:Methoprene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011223:Praziquantel; D007559:Ivermectin; C101434:eprinomectin; D008726:Methoprene; C082360:fipronil
keywords: Aelurostrongylus abstrusus; Broadline(®); Cats; Lungworms; Treatment; Troglostrongylus brevior