Comparative effectiveness of the complex drugs based on imidacloprid and moxidectin against ecto- and endoparasitic infestations of cats

Abstract

Treatments of ecto- and endoparasitic infestations of cats adopt drugs based on imidacloprid and moxidectin. Therefore, the objective of our study was comparing spot-on applied complex drugs, which have different action mechanisms of their active agents, during ecto- and endoparasitic infestations of cats. We provide the data on effectiveness of the complex antiparasitic drug Megastop Ultra for Cats, in comparison to the Advocate for Cats drug, used for treatment and prophylaxis of ecto- and endoparasitic infestations of cats of different breeds, ages, sexes and body weights. Entomological examination of cats of the experimental and control groups revealed fleas such as Ctenocephalides felis and Pulex irritans, with the infestation intensity of 50 to 90 specimens per individual, the average infestation intensity measuring 65.3 ± 3.37 ectoparasitic insects per animal. Clinically, it manifests in unrest of animals and itching. The efficacy of the tested drug Megastop Ultra for Cats against siphonapterosis of cats was 95.4% on the 8th h after application, whereas such of the comparison drug Advocate for Cats was 97.9%. Starting from the first and third days of usage of the drugs, no fleas were found on the cats. According to the results of acarological examination, cats of the experimental and control groups suffered from Otodectes cynotis mites, the infestation intensity equaling 4 to 10 specimens per animal, the average infestation intensity being 7.4 ± 0.5 mites per animal. Otoacariasis was accompanied by itching, reddening of the auricle, and sites of Otodectes infestation as moderately thick scabs and crusts. On the 7th day after treating otoacariasis of cats, Megastop Ultra for Cats produced 82.6% efficacy and Advocate for Cats produced 84.5% efficacy. Starting from the 14th day after the treatment, we found no specimens of O. cynotis on the internal surface of the auricle and the external acoustic meatus. According to the results of conducted parasitological examinations of animals of the experimental and control groups, we diagnozed spontaneous infestations with endoparasites, nematode pathogens of the digestive tract – Toxocara cati and Ancylostoma tubaeforme. The intensity (ІІ) of T. cati invasion accounted for 60 to 120 eggs in one gram of feces (ЕGF), the average invasion intensity being 90.4 ± 4.2 ЕGF, while such of A. tubaeforme were 20 to 56 and 39.1 ± 2.3 ЕGF, respectively. Clinically, nematodoses of the cats’ digestive tract manifested in loss of appetite, frustration, paleness of the mucous membranes, and some animals vomittd and had mild diarrhea. After worm removal, we carried out coprological examinations for helminths so as to identify indexes of parasitic infestation and efficiacy of the drugs. We determined that the efficacy of the tested drug Megastop Ultra for Cats against spontaneous toxocariasis of cats on the 7th day after worm removal was 95.1%, and such of Advocate for Cats was 98.0%. On the 14th day after worm removal, the efficacy of the both drugs was 100%. The helminthological examinations revealed that on days 7 and 14 after treating spontaneous ancylostomiasis of cats, both the tested drugs, utilized in the doses recommended by the manufacturers, exerted 100% effectiveness. Moreover, the field trials revealed that single spot-on applications of Megastop Ultra for Cats and Advocate for Cats in the doses recommended by the manufacturers had good response among the animals and had no negative impact on them, regardless of breed, age, sex and body weight.