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. 2023 Mar 6;16(1):86.
doi: 10.1186/s13071-023-05661-z.

Efficacy of lotilaner against myiasis caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in naturally infested dogs

Tássia Lopes do Vale  1 , Alcyjara Rego Costa  2 , Leandro Macedo Miranda  2 , Geovane Ferreira Silva  3 , Naylene Carvalho Sales Silva  1 , Tiago Barbalho Lima  2 , Daniel Praseres Chaves  2 , Heinz Sager  4 , Pedro Veloso Facury Lasmar  5 , Livio Martins Costa-Junior  6
Affiliations

Efficacy of lotilaner against myiasis caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in naturally infested dogs

Tássia Lopes do Vale et al. Parasit Vectors. .

Abstract

Background: The New World screwworm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax, is widely distributed across South America. This parasitic insect is a significant cause of primary myiasis in animals, including dogs. There is an urgent need for a rapid and efficient treatment to improve the recovery of affected animals. In the present study we evaluated the potential of lotilaner for the treatment of myiasis caused by C. hominivorax larvae in naturally infested dogs. Lotilaner belongs to the isoxazoline class of chemical compounds and is marketed as Credelio™ for use against ticks and fleas in dogs and cats.

Methods: Eleven dogs with naturally acquired myiasis were enrolled in this study based on the severity of lesions and the number of identified larvae. All animals received a single oral administration of lotilaner at a minimum dose of 20.5 mg/kg body weight. After treatment, the number of expelled larvae, live or dead, was determined at 2, 6 and 24 h, and the larval expulsion rate, larvicidal effect and overall efficacy were calculated. After 24 h, the remaining larvae were removed, counted and identified. The lesions were cleaned, and palliative treatment was administered when necessary, according to the animal's health status.

Results: All larvae were identified as C. hominivorax. The larval expulsion rate was 80.5% and 93.0% at 2 and 6 h post-treatment, respectively. Lotilaner showed an overall efficacy of 100% at 24 h post-treatment.

Conclusions: Lotilaner demonstrated a rapid onset of action and a high efficacy against C. hominivorax. We therefore recommend lotilaner for the effective treatment of myiasis in dogs.

Keywords: Control strategies; Dogs; Ectoparasites; Myiasis; New World screwworm fly.

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Conflict of interest statement

PL and HS are employees of Elanco Animal Health. All other authors have nothing to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean and standard deviation of the number of expelled, dead, removed and total number of larvae of Cochliomyia hominivorax per dog treated with a single oral dose of Credelio™ (lotilaner)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Expulsion (a), larvicidal efficacy (b) and general efficacy (c) of a single dose of Credelio™ (lotilaner) in dogs at 2, 6 and 24 h post-treatment on myiasis by Cochliomyia hominivorax. Dots show the individual values for each dog, the bar shows the average value and the horizontal lines show the standard deviation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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