Comparative evaluation of the prophylactic activity of a slow-release insecticide collar and a moxidectin spot-on formulation against Thelazia callipaeda infection in naturally exposed dogs in France

Background: the relative efficacy of a collar containing 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin (seresto®,bayer healthcare animal health) and a spot on formulation containing 10% imidacloprid and 2.5% moxidectin (advocate®,bayer healthcare animal health) was evaluated as a control measure to prevent canine thelaziosis in dogs in an endemic area of france. findings: ninety-six privately-owned dogs were enrolled in the multicentre,controlled study. before summer (the period of transmission by fruit flies),dogs were allocated to one of three groups: group a (n = 36)-treated once with a collar containing 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin; group b (n = 33)-treated every month for 8 months with a spot-on containing imidacloprid 10% and moxidectin 2.5%; and group c (n = 27)-untreated control animals. dogs were regularly subjected to ocular examination in order to assess thelazia callipaeda infection. during the trial,t. callipaeda nematodes were detected in 12 (33%) collared dogs (group a) whereas no eyeworm could be found in dogs who received a monthly spot on application of moxidectin (group b). in the control group,8 (30%) dogs became infected. conclusions: the monthly application of a spot on formulation containing 10% imidacloprid and 2.5% moxidectin was shown to be highly effective in preventing t. callipaeda infection in a population of dogs living in an endemic area in france. on the contrary,the slow-release collar tested in this study did not display any protection against canine thelaziosis. © 2015 lechat et al.; licensee biomed central.