1. Academic Validation
  2. First study of topical selamectin efficacy for treating cats naturally infected with Brugia malayi and Brugia pahangi under field conditions

First study of topical selamectin efficacy for treating cats naturally infected with Brugia malayi and Brugia pahangi under field conditions

  • Parasitol Res. 2019 Apr;118(4):1289-1297. doi: 10.1007/s00436-019-06248-3.
Patsharaporn T Sarasombath 1 Suwich Thammapalo 2 Sumart Loymek 2 Anchisa Angkanasinsiri 1 Patcharin Priyavoravong 3 Sirichit Wongkamchai 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Wangland Road, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
  • 2 Office of Disease Prevention and Control Region 12 Songkhla, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Songkhla, Thailand.
  • 3 Zoetis (Thailand) Limited, Silom Road, Bang Rak District, Bangkok, Thailand.
  • 4 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Wangland Road, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand. sirichit.won@mahidol.ac.th.
Abstract

Lymphatic filariae are important human and animal parasites. Infection by these parasites could lead to severe morbidity and has significant socioeconomic impacts. Topical selamectin is a semi-synthetic macrocyclic lactone that is widely used to prevent heartworm Infection. Up until now, there were no studies that investigated the efficacy of selamectin in lymphatic filariae. Therefore, we aimed to study the chemotherapeutic and chemoprophylactic efficacies of selamectin use for cats in brugian filariasis-endemic areas in Southern Thailand. To assess chemotherapeutic efficacy of topical selamectin, eight Brugia malayi and six Brugia pahangi microfilaremic cats were treated with a single administration of topical selamectin. For chemoprophylactic efficacy assessment, a single application of topical selamectin was administrated to 9 healthy, uninfected cats. The cats in both groups were subjected to a monthly blood testing for microfilariae and filarial DNA for 1 year. Topical selamectin treatment in B. malayi and B. pahangi microfilaremic cats showed 100% effectivity in eradicating microfilaremia but only 78.5% effectivity in eliminating filarial DNA. In the chemoprophylactic group, selamectin demonstrated 66.7% efficacy in preventing B. malayi Infection. Our findings suggest that a single administration of 6 mg/kg topical selamectin given every two months could effectively prevent B. malayi Infection. Application of topical selamectin twice a year could block circulating microfilariae. Since there are no treatment guidelines currently available for lymphatic filarial Infection in cats, the data obtained from this study could be used to guide the management of brugian lymphatic filarial Infection in reservoir cats.

Keywords

Brugia malayi; Brugia pahangi; Chemoprophylaxis; Chemotherapeutic; Macrocyclic lactone; Selamectin; Thailand.

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