Abstract
BACKGROUND: Orally administered fluralaner (13.64% w/w) is effective for treating canine generalized demodicosis. A study was initiated to assess the efficacy of a novel 5.46% w/w fluralaner chewable tablet formulation for monthly administration in the treatment of this disease. METHODS: Client-owned dogs diagnosed with generalized demodicosis were acclimatized to laboratory conditions and randomized to receive either orally administered fluralaner (Bravecto(®) 1-Month) (10.0 to 14.4 mg/kg body weight) (n = 8) or topical imidacloprid-moxidectin (Advocate(®) for dogs, Elanco) applied per label on days 0, 28, and 56 (n = 8), or more frequently for ongoing severe demodicosis. On days -2, 28, 56, and 84, deep skin scrapings were taken from five sites on each dog for mite identification and counting, and semiquantitative clinical assessments of generalized demodicosis were recorded. Primary efficacy was based upon arithmetic mean mite count reductions relative to pre-treatment. RESULTS: By day 28, mean pre-treatment mite counts, > 600 in both groups, were significantly reduced by 99.7% and 89.5% (both P < 0.001) in the fluralaner and imidacloprid-moxidectin groups, respectively. Parasitological cure (100% reduction in mite counts on days 56 and 84) was achieved in all fluralaner-treated dogs (100%) and in two imidacloprid-moxidectin-treated dogs (25%). In the imidacloprid-moxidectin group, the reduction in mean mite counts was 89.5% (day 28), 94.4% (day 56), and 97.5% (day 84). All study dogs were free of crusts on days 56 and 84. Scales resolved by day 84 in all fluralaner-treated dogs and in three imidacloprid-moxidectin-treated dogs. All fluralaner-treated dogs and five imidacloprid-moxidectin-treated dogs had > 90% hair regrowth on day 84. CONCLUSION: Three consecutive monthly orally administered treatments with fluralaner (5.46% w/w) flavored chewable tablets (minimum dose rate 10 mg/kg body weight) eliminated Demodex canis mites from dogs diagnosed with generalized demodicosis.