title: Efficacy of moxidectin 2.5% and imidacloprid 10% in the treatment of ocular thelaziosis by Thelazia callipaeda in naturally infected dogs.
abstract: Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) has been documented as agent of ocular infection in domestic animals (dogs and cats), wildlife (e.g., foxes, hares, rabbits), and humans. In the last two decades, this parasitosis has been increasingly reported in several European countries. Both adult and larval stages of the eyeworm are responsible for symptoms ranging from mild (e.g., lacrimation, ocular discharge, epiphora) to severe (e.g., conjunctivitis, keratitis, and corneal opacity or ulcers). The present study evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of imidacloprid 10% and moxidectin 2.5% spot on (Advocate(®), Bayer Animal Health) in comparison to milbemycin oxime/praziquantel tablets (Milbemax(®), Novartis-Animal Health), as positive control, in the treatment of canine thelaziosis in naturally infected dogs and, a third group was used as an untreated control. Forty-seven dogs (27 females and 20 males) harbouring at least one live adult worm of T. callipaeda in one eye were enrolled from an endemic area of southern Italy. Each dog was then weighed and assigned in accordance with a random treatment allocation plan to one of the treatment groups (G1: imidacloprid 10% and moxidectin 2.5% spot on, G2: Untreated control and G3: milbemycin oxime/praziquantel tablets). On Day (D) 7, 14, 28 and 35 dogs were physically examined and the infection level was assessed by examination of both eyes, including conjunctival pouch and third eyelid for live adult T. callipaeda count and clinical scores. Dogs in G1 were treated on D0 and D28, whereas those in G3 on D0 and D7. Efficacy in G1 was 100% at each day post treatment (p<0.01). For the G3 group efficacy was 57.39% on D7 (p<0.05), 92.79% on D14 and 100% on D28 and D35 (p<0.01). The application of the spot on formulation moxidectin 2.5% and imidacloprid 10% was highly effective in the treatment of canine thelaziosis caused by T. callipaeda. Advocate(®) spot on can be recommended for the control of T. callipaeda infection, considering that this formulation is currently licensed in Europe for the treatment of a wide range of parasites affecting dogs.
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy. Electronic address: domenico.otranto@uniba.it.
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Otranto
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
authors: Vito
authors: V
authors: Colella
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Crescenzo
authors: Arcoblu s.r.l., Via Alessandro Milesi 5, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Solari Basano
authors: Arcoblu s.r.l., Via Alessandro Milesi 5, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Nazzari
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy.
authors: Gioia
authors: G
authors: Capelli
authors: Bayer Animal Health GmbH, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany.
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Petry
authors: Bayer Animal Health GmbH, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany.
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Schaper
authors: Bayer Animal Health GmbH, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Pollmeier
authors: Parco Regionale Gallipoli Cognato e Piccole Dolomiti Lucane, 75011 Accettura, Italy.
authors: Egidio
authors: E
authors: Mallia
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy; Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 50670-420 Recife, Brazil.
authors: Filipe
authors: F
authors: Dantas-Torres
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
authors: Riccardo Paolo
authors: RP
authors: Lia
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018942:Macrolides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D013802:Thelazioidea / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D018942:Macrolides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds; C082359:imidacloprid; C027837:moxidectin
keywords: Advocate(®); Eyeworm; Moxidectin; Parasite; Thelazia callipaeda; Treatment