Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of imidacloprid 10% plus moxidectin 2.5% spot–on in the treatment of generalized demodicosis in dogs: results of a European field study

Abstract

Efficacy and safety of the test product imidacloprid 10%+moxidectin 2.5% spot on (Advocate^®, Advantage multi^®) in the treatment of canine generalized demodicosis were evaluated in a multi–centre, controlled, randomized, blinded field study in Albania, France, and Germany. The study was conducted according to a non–inferiority design to demonstrate that the efficacy of the test product is not inferior to that of a control product containing milbemycin oxime (Interceptor, tablets for oral application). Of the 72 dogs enrolled, all of which expressed clinical signs of generalized demodicosis, 63 completed the study. Of these, 30 dogs were treated 2–4 times, at 4–week intervals, with the test product at the recommended dose of at least 0.1 ml/kg body weight. Thirty–three dogs were treated daily for two to four periods of 4 weeks with the control product according to label instructions (0.5–1 or 1–2 mg/kg body weight). Presence of mites in deep skin scrapings and clinical improvement were assessed 3–6 times at each inspection at 4–week intervals. Treatment was discontinued in dogs negative for mites on two subsequent examinations 4weeks apart or at the last examination on day 84. At the end of the trial, dogs in both groups showed a similar clinical improvement. No Demodex mites were detected in 26 of 30 dogs treated with imidacloprid/moxidectin and in 29 of 33 dogs treated with milbemycin oxime. Statistical evaluation confirmed that the efficacy of the test product in the treatment of generalized canine demodicosis was not inferior to that of milbemycin oxime.