Evaluation of the Efficacy of Imidacloprid 10 % / Moxidectin 2.5 % (Advocate®, Advantage® Multi, Bayer) for the Prevention of Dirofilaria repens Infection in Dogs

Abstract

The efficacy of imidacloprid 10 %/moxidectin 2.5 % (Advocate®, Advantage® Multi, Bayer) against experimental Dirofilaria (D.) repens infection in dogs was evaluated in a blinded, negative controlled randomised laboratory efficacy study. On SD (study day) 0, eight dogs received a spot-on treatment at a dose of 10 mg imidacloprid and 2.5 mg moxidectin per kg body weight. Another 8 dogs were left untreated. On SD 28 each dog was infected with approximately 75 infective D. repens larvae. Blood samples were collected every 4 weeks after treatment. A modified Knott test was conducted to detect mf (microfilaria). PCR analysis was performed with mf-positive blood samples. On SDs 245 and 246, all dogs were euthanised for detection of D. repens worms. Blood samples of all treated dogs were negative for mf at all sampling days. Blood samples of control dogs were positive for mf in 5 out of 8 control dogs. Individual mf counts ranged from 7 to 2800 mf/ml. In mf-positive blood samples, only D. repens was identified by PCR analysis. During necropsy D. repens worms could be detected in eight untreated control dogs (range: 3–21 worms per dog), whereas no worm could be detected in any of the treated dogs. These results indicate a 100 % preventive efficiency of a single spot-on treatment of imidacloprid 10 %/moxidectin 2.5 % in dogs against experimental infection with D. repens (L3 larvae). The product was well tolerated in all study animals, no treatment related adverse reactions were observed throughout the study.

Evaluation of the Adulticidal Efficacy of Imidacloprid 10 %/Moxidectin 2.5 % (w/v) Spot-on (Advocate®, Advantage® Multi) against Dirofilaria repens in Experimentally Infected Dogs

“…The adequate infection of the control group proved the reliability of the infection model and the infection rate was within ranges formerly experienced with this infection dose (Genchi et al 2010;Genchi et al 2013.) The onset of patency was earlier than expected.…”

“…Since these guidelines do not include any specific recommendations for D. repens, the infection protocol was based on scientific knowledge and experience from previous experimental studies. The reliability of the infection protocol had been confirmed in studies on the prevention of experimental D. repens infection in dogs (Genchi et al 2010, Genchi et al 2013). …”

“…The preventive efficacy of moxidectin in a spot-on formulation of imidacloprid/moxidectin (Advocate ® /Advantage ® multi, Bayer) has been demonstrated in a field trial and was confirmed in a laboratory study with dogs receiving a challenge infection 4 weeks after a single treatment at the minimum therapeutic dose. No worms were detected at necropsy in any of the treated dogs (Genchi et al 2013). The potential of the spoton formulation to eliminate microfilariae has been investigated by various authors.…”

Dirofilariasis in Russian Federation: a big problem with large distribution

“…The D. repens and D. immitis life cycles include mosquito vectors from the Culicidae and final hosts of different domestic and wild carnivorous animals [10,11]. Both Dirofilaria species demonstrate low host specificity and can affect many mammals.…”

Chemical Compatibility and Safety of Imidacloprid/Flumethrin Collar (Seresto®) Concomitantly Used with Imidacloprid/Moxidectin (Advocate®, Advantage® Multi) and Emodepside/Praziquantel (Profender®) Spot-on Formulations

“…Efficacy using this product has been demonstrated against fleas and mites Wenzel et al 2008;Fourie et al 2009;Le Sueur et al 2011), as well as several helminth species (Conboy et al 2009;Fok et al 2010;Taweethavonsawat et al 2010;Hellman et al 2011;Traversa et al 2012;Austin et al 2013) in animals as diverse as dogs, cats, ferrets and even reptiles and rodents (Mehlhorn et al 2005). Advocate ® has also been shown to prevent infection with certain parasites, such as the nematodes Spirocerca lupi and Dirofilaria repens (Le Sueur et al 2011;Hellman et al 2011;Genchi et al 2013). Profender ® spot-on contains both emodepside and praziquantel.…”