Efficacy of an oral formulation of afoxolaner and milbemycin oxime against Tunga penetrans in naturally infected dogs.

BACKGROUND: The sand flea Tunga penetrans is one of the agents of tungiasis, an important parasitic skin disease affecting humans and several mammalian species. Tungiasis is mainly observed in disadvantaged rural and peripheral urban communities in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. The dog is a major reservoir of Tunga fleas. Hematophagous adult female Tunga spp. embed and grow in their host's epidermis and cause cutaneous inflammatory disorders. NexGard Spectra® is an orally administered endectocide for dogs, a co-formulation of the isoxazoline afoxolaner and the macrocyclic lactone milbemycin oxime. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of this product against canine tungiasis. METHODS: A blinded, negative-controlled field trial was conducted in a Brazilian community known to be highly endemic for tungiasis. Sixty-six dogs naturally infected with live T. penetrans were randomly allocated to a treated group (44 dogs) and an untreated control group (22 dogs). In a first phase, dogs from the treated group were treated on days 0, 30, and 60. Efficacy was evaluated on the basis of the macroscopic parasitic skin lesions (Fortaleza classification) on days 7, 14, 21, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90. In a second phase, to evaluate natural reinfections, all dogs were treated on day 90 and evaluated every 2 weeks thereafter until at least 30% of dogs were infected with live sand fleas. RESULTS: During the first phase, efficacy (reduction in live sand fleas) of 92.4% was demonstrated on day 7. From day 14 until day 90, the efficacy of NexGard Spectra® was 100%. In the second phase, all dogs were free of live T. penetrans from 15 until 45 days after the day 90 treatment; 60 days post-treatment, 11% of dogs were reinfected, and 75 days post-treatment, 40% of dogs were reinfected. CONCLUSIONS: NexGard Spectra® was demonstrated to be highly effective against canine tungiasis. In addition to an obvious beneficial effect on the health and welfare of the treated dog, the use of this product may have a one-health benefit on human cases by controlling the main reservoir of sand fleas.

Vaccination principles for dogs and cats in animal shelters / Princípios da vacinação de cães e gatos em abrigos

Animal shelters are places with a high risk of exposure to infectious diseases due to the high density, population dynamics of the shelter, and the stress to which dogs and cats are subjected. The immunization process through vaccines is an essential component in the prevention and health and welfare management program for these animals. This review aims to evaluate the guidelines on vaccination of dogs and cats in shelter environments, highlighting points of comparison with the Brazilian reality.(AU)

Os abrigos de animais são locais com um alto risco de exposição às doenças infecciosas devido à alta densidade, à dinâmica populacional do abrigo e ao estresse a que os cães e gatos estão submetidos. O processo de imunização por meio das vacinas é um componente essencial no programa de prevenção e gestão de saúde e bem-estar para esses animais. Esta revisão tem como objetivo revisar as diretrizes sobre a vacinação de cães e gatos em ambientes de abrigos, ressaltando pontos de comparação com a realidade brasileira.(AU)