Efficacy and safety of sarolaner against generalized demodicosis in dogs in European countries: a non-inferiority study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Treatment of canine demodicosis can be challenging; new treatments are always being sought. OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of sarolaner was evaluated in comparison with a moxidectin/imidacloprid topical product against generalized demodicosis in dogs in a randomized, single-masked, multi-centre field study. ANIMALS Client-owned dogs were treated monthly with oral sarolaner (n = 53) or with weekly/monthly topical moxidectin/imidacloprid (n = 28). METHODS: Mites were counted monthly in deep skin scrapings and the severity of skin lesions was evaluated. Dogs completed the study when no live mites were found on two consecutive monthly skin scrapings or on day 180 at the latest (study end). RESULTS: Parasitological cure, defined as the first time that no live mites were found in the skin scrapings, was achieved in 92.9% and 100% of the dogs after three and no more than five monthly treatments with sarolaner (respectively). In the moxidectin/imidacloprid group, 77.3% and 91.7% of the dogs were cured after three and six months, respectively. Parasitological cure rate for sarolaner was non-inferior to moxidectin/imidacloprid on day 60. Mite counts were reduced by 77.2%, 95.0%, 98.5%, 99.0%, 100% and 100% in the sarolaner group and by 68.0%, 88.4%, 91.1%, 92.7%, 73.9% and 82.2% in the moxidectin/imidacloprid group, on days 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180, respectively, compared to pre-treatment counts. The skin lesions improved throughout the study; the total affected body surface decreased by 94% in the sarolaner and by 72% in the moxidectin/imidacloprid group. There were no treatment-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Monthly oral administration of sarolaner was safe and highly effective in the treatment of generalized demodicosis in dogs.