Treatment of esophageal spirocercosis with milbemycin oxime.

ABSTRACT

Six medium sized mixed breed dogs treated with milbemycin oxime (11.5mg on days 0, 7 and 28 and then monthly) stopped shedding Spirocerca lupi ova after 3-44 days. There was no evidence of subsequent shedding in repeated tests (about 5/dog) carried out from 31 to 133 days after initiation of treatment. Esophageal nodules disappeared in all dogs within 95-186 days and radiographic signs resolved within 85-127 days in the five dogs that were studied. This preliminary data shows milbemycin oxime deserves further evaluation for the treatment of spirocercosis.