Efficacy of a combination of 10% imidacloprid and 1% moxidectin against Caparinia tripilis in African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)

Kyu-Rim Kim,Kyu-Sung Ahn,Sung-Shik Shin,Dae-Sung Oh

doi:10.1186/1756-3305-5-158

Abstract

BackgroundThe efficacy and safety of a combination formulation of 10% imidacloprid + 1.0% moxidectin spot-on (Advocate® for Cats, Bayer Animal Health GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany) was tested in 40 African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) naturally infested with Caparinia tripilis.MethodsThe optimal dosage level of the combination for hedgehogs was determined by assigning 20 hedgehogs into three treatment groups (0.1, 0.4 and 1.6 ml/Kg b.w.), and one untreated control group of 5 hedgehogs each. Twenty naturally infested hedgehogs were then randomly assigned to either treatment or control group with 10 animals each, and the number of live mites was counted from 13 body regions on day 0, 3, 9, 16, and 30 after single treatment at the dosage level of 0.1 ml/Kg.ResultsBefore the chemotherapy, the highest density of mite was observed in external ear canals followed by the dorsal and the lowest in the ventral regions of the body surface. The dosage level of 0.1 ml/Kg, which corresponded to the recommended dosage level for cats, containing 10 mg imidacloprid and 1 mg moxidectin was also the optimal dosage level for hedgehogs. No hedgehogs in the treatment group showed live mites from day 3 post treatment. Side effects such as ataxia, depression, nausea, and weight fluctuation were not observed during the whole period of study.ConclusionsThis report suggests that a combination formulation of 0.1 ml/Kg of 10% imidacloprid + 1% moxidectin spot-on for cats is also useful for the control of Caparinia tripilis infestation in hedgehogs.

Highlights

The efficacy and safety of a combination formulation of 10% imidacloprid + 1.0% moxidectin spot-on (AdvocateW for Cats, Bayer Animal Health GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany) was tested in 40 African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) naturally infested with Caparinia tripilis
While ivermectin (EqvalanW, Merck & Co., Rahway, New Jersey) administered intramuscularly at 21-day intervals reduced clinical disease caused by Caparinia infestation in A. albiventris, it failed to eliminate the mites
Study animals In November 2010, forty African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris, 13 male and 27 female, mean ± SD body weight, 305.6 ± 111.2 g) naturally infested with Caparinia tripilis were obtained from a local pet shop in Gwangju, Korea

Summary

Introduction

The efficacy and safety of a combination formulation of 10% imidacloprid + 1.0% moxidectin spot-on (AdvocateW for Cats, Bayer Animal Health GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany) was tested in 40 African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) naturally infested with Caparinia tripilis. Caparinia tripilis (Michael, 1889), first reported in Erinaceus europaeus from England [1], is one of the most important causes of skin disease in hedgehogs [2]. The ears of infested animals become scaly and the skin of the affected parts thickens. Bleeding can occur when the lesions become worse, spines may fall out, and Treatments in hedgehogs have included organophosphate bath, ivermectin injection, and amitraz spray [4,5]. After the treatment with organophosphate bath (ParamiteTM, Vet-Kem Co., Dallas, Texas), skin lesions were improved and the condition had not recurred [4]. While ivermectin (EqvalanW, Merck & Co., Rahway, New Jersey) administered intramuscularly at 21-day intervals reduced clinical disease caused by Caparinia infestation in A. albiventris, it failed to eliminate the mites. An application of 1% permethrin has been shown to be effective [7]

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Conclusion