moxidectin and Pruritus

The aim of this prospective, randomized, single-blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy of a moxidectin pour-on solution for the treatment of Chorioptes bovis infestation in Belgian draft horses, and in addition, to evaluate the effect of this treatment on the clinical signs and lesions associated with chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL). Nineteen privately owned Belgian draft horses were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (moxidectin pour-on formulation, n = 10) or a placebo group (phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), n = 9). On Day 0, all 19 horses tested positive for the presence of C. bovis in superficial skin scrapings. Prior to treatment, all feathering on the distal limbs of the horses was clipped. Treatment was applied twice (Day 0 and 7). Pour-on moxidectin (Cydectin 0.5% Pour-On; Zoetis) was evenly distributed over the distal legs of the horses at a dose of 1.5 mg moxidectin/kg body weight. Animals in the placebo group were treated with PBS. Pretreatment and follow-up examinations consisted of counting living mites in superficial skin scrapings, scoring pruritus, and scoring mange-associated and CPL-associated lesions (skinfold score and skin lesion score). Horses in the placebo group and moxidectin group were followed up to 8 weeks and 24 weeks after the first treatment, respectively. On Day 14, no living mites were found in any of the horses in the moxidectin group (p = 0.013). These horses continued to remain free of mites, until the final sampling conducted at 24 weeks following the initial application of moxidectin, when three horses again showed living mites in skin scrapings. Treatment with moxidectin resulted in a significant reduction of both CPL-associated skin lesion scores (p = 0.003) and pruritus scores (p = 0.001) after only seven days. By Day 56, still no signs of pruritus (p < 0.0001) were detected, with significant improvement of mange-associated lesions (p < 0.0001). Although the skinfold score did not show a significant reduction by Day 56, the score for skin lesions associated with CPL had significantly improved (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that pour-on moxidectin, at a high dose and applied directly to the mite predilection site, was an effective treatment for C. bovis infestation in feathered draft horses, providing positive effects on CPL lesions, pruritus and mange-associated lesions. Furthermore, these findings emphasize the therapeutic

Topics: Animals; Belgium; Chronic Disease; Horse Diseases; Horses; Insecticides; Lymphedema; Macrolides; Mite Infestations; Mites; Prospective Studies; Pruritus; Psoroptidae

Control of onchocerciasis as a public health problem in Africa relies on annual mass ivermectin distribution. New tools are needed to achieve elimination of infection. This study determined in a small number of Onchocerca volvulus infected individuals whether moxidectin, a veterinary anthelminthic, is safe enough to administer it in a future large study to further characterize moxidectin's safety and efficacy. Effects on the parasite were also assessed.. Men and women from a forest area in South-eastern Ghana without ivermectin mass distribution received a single oral dose of 2 mg (N = 44), 4 mg (N = 45) or 8 mg (N = 38) moxidectin or 150 µg/kg ivermectin (N = 45) with 18 months follow up. All ivermectin and 97%-100% of moxidectin treated participants had Mazzotti reactions. Statistically significantly higher percentages of participants treated with 8 mg moxidectin than participants treated with ivermectin experienced pruritus (87% vs. 56%), rash (63% vs. 42%), increased pulse rate (61% vs. 36%) and decreased mean arterial pressure upon 2 minutes standing still after ≥5 minutes supine relative to pre-treatment (61% vs. 27%). These reactions resolved without treatment. In the 8 mg moxidectin and ivermectin arms, the mean±SD number of microfilariae/mg skin were 22.9±21.1 and 21.2±16.4 pre-treatment and 0.0±0.0 and 1.1±4.2 at nadir reached 1 and 3 months after treatment, respectively. At 6 months, values were 0.0±0.0 and 1.6±4.5, at 12 months 0.4±0.9 and 3.4±4.4 and at 18 months 1.8±3.3 and 4.0±4.8, respectively, in the 8 mg moxidectin and ivermectin arm. The reduction from pre-treatment values was significantly higher after 8 mg moxidectin than after ivermectin treatment throughout follow up (p<0.01).. The 8 mg dose of moxidectin was safe enough to initiate the large study. Provided its results confirm those from this study, availability of moxidectin to control programmes could help them achieve onchocerciasis elimination objectives.. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00300768.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Anthelmintics; Blood Pressure; Double-Blind Method; Exanthema; Female; Ghana; Humans; Ivermectin; Macrolides; Male; Microfilariae; Middle Aged; Onchocerca volvulus; Onchocerciasis; Pruritus; Skin; Young Adult

In this study, the efficacy and safety of a treatment with the combination imidacloprid 10 %/ moxidectin 1.0 % spot-on (Advocate(®) spot-on for small cats and ferrets) was tested in 39 ferrets naturally infested with ear mites (Otodectes cynotis). The study was performed as a multicentre, non-randomised, non-controlled (all study animals were treated) and non-blinded clinical field study in two French veterinary practices. Four visits (day (D) 0 = inclusion and first treatment, D14 = second treatment, D28 = possible third treatment, D56 = termination) were planned. The dosage was one pipet per ferret (designed for cats weighing up to 4 kg, corresponding to a dose of moxidectin ranging from 2.2 to 5 mg/kg body weight) two or three times at 14-days intervals (at D0, D14 and possibly D28 depending on the parasitological examination of the ears at D28). The main efficacy criterion was the absence of the parasite (all stages incl. eggs, larvae, nymphs and adults) from ear scrapings by microscopic examination. At D28 after two treatments (D0 and D14), 76.9 % (30/39) of animals were cured. Only 23 % (9/39) needed a third treatment. At day 56, 100 % were cured. Local symptoms (inflammation and pruritus) were consistently improved (50.6 % improvement at D14, 81.0 % at D28 and 97.9 % at D56) as well as the abnormal cerumen production (14.7 % improvement at D14, 77.7 % at D28 and 100.0 % at D56). No general symptoms were noticed during the study (general health and skin aspect). Advocate(®) spot-on for small cats and ferrets is an effective and safe treatment for ear mite infection in ferrets. Two or three treatments administered in 14-days intervals to ferrets infested with ear mites provided 100 % parasitological cure on D56.

Topics: Animals; Antiparasitic Agents; Drug Combinations; Drug Evaluation; Ear; Ear Diseases; Female; Ferrets; Imidazoles; Macrolides; Male; Mite Infestations; Neonicotinoids; Nitro Compounds; Pruritus