Efficacy of Emodepside/Praziquantel Spot-on (Profender®) against adult Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Nematodes in Experimentally Infected Cats

Abstract

The adulticidal efficacy of a topical combination of emodepside 2.1 % (w/v) plus praziquantel 8.6 % (w/v) (Profender ® spot-on for cats, Bayer) against adult Aelurostrongylus abstrusus nematodes was evaluated in two randomised, placebo-controlled laboratory efficacy studies. Each study involved 16 cats experimentally inoculated with L3 (800 and 600 each in studies no. 1 and 2, respectively) and randomised into two study groups of 8 cats each after onset of patency. While cats in the treatment group in study no. 1 received a single spot-on application at the minimum therapeutic dose (3 mg/kg emodepside and 12 mg/kg praziquantel), cats in study no. 2 were treated twice with an interval of 14 days. The faecal output of first stage larvae was monitored throughout the study. Necropsy was conducted 4 or 5 weeks after the (first) treatment and the worm counts were used for efficacy calculations. The control groups showed a geometric mean of the total worm count (live and dead worms) of 28.8 (study no. 1) and 17.6 (study no. 2), respectively. All control animals were infected. While the single treatment in study no. 1 resulted in a reduction of the total worm burden by 73.0 % (p = 0.0070), the treatment protocol in study no. 2 was 99.2 % effective (p = 0.0035). Based on live worm counts, the efficacy in study no. 2 was 100 % (p = 0.0030). It is concluded that two applications of Profender ® spot-on given two weeks apart represent a safe and highly efficacious treatment regime against feline aelurostrongylosis. S156EndoparasitEs

Diagnosis and management of lungworm infections in cats

“…To summarise the treatment data discussed on pages 14 and 15: < Spot-on moxidectin/imidacloprid was effective in stopping larval and egg shedding, respectively, by A abstrusus and C aerophila, and in curing clinical signs in naturally infected cats. 82,90 < Spot-on emodepside, 81,83 sela mectin 85 and eprinomectin 86,87 similarly showed high efficacy in the treatment of aelurostrongylosis in natural and/or experimental conditions. < Clinical reports in single animals have documented promising activity of moxidectin 54 and emo depside 27 in curing T brevior infection.…”

“…These studies showed that two spot-on administrations of emodepside 2 weeks apart are safe and efficacious against cat aeluro strongylosis. 83 Another macrocyclic lactone, selamectin (Stronghold; Zoetis), used topically at 18 mg/kg, reduced clinical signs after a single spot-on administration, while a second dose after 1 month ensured improvement in respiratory function and radiographic bronchial lesions. 84 Selamectin at a topical dose of 6 mg/kg was effective in eliminating larvae from the faeces of a cat after 30 days; 50 the same drug was effective in producing a clinical recovery and stopping larval shedding in 9/10 cats infected with A abstrusus.…”

Efficacy of imidacloprid 10%/moxidectin 1% spot-on formulation (Advocate®) in the prevention and treatment of feline aelurostrongylosis

“…Studies were conducted in accordance with VICH Guideline 9, "Good Clinical Practice" The study procedures adhered to the WAAVP guidelines for evaluating the efficacy of anthelmintics in dogs and cats [38]. The study design was based on the scientific knowledge and experience gained in a similar study [26], because the guidelines do not include specific information on A. abstrusus.…”

“…The emodepside formulation has been evaluated further in two randomized, placebo-controlled experimental studies. Two spot-on administrations at a two-week interval showed a 99.2% reduction of worm counts in the lung tissue [26]. Profender ® is therefore licensed for the treatment of adult stages of A. abstrusus in cats with this treatment regimen [27].…”

Pharmacokinetics of a novel spot-on formulation of praziquantel for dogs

“…The efficacy of transdermal PZQ, either alone or in combination with other endectocides, has been widely demonstrated in cats (Böhm et al, 2015;Jenkins and Romig, 2000;Krüdewagen et al, 2015;Traversa et al, 2009). However, its penetration in dogs remains to be determined.…”