Efficacy comparison of afoxolaner/milbemycin oxime with ivermectin/praziquantel in dogs naturally infected with toxocara canis.

The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of afoxolaner/milbemycin oxime with ivermectin/praziquantel in dogs naturally infected with Toxocara canis. Toxocara canis positive dogs (N = 200) were chosen by means of coproparasitoscopic analysis. Two study groups of 100 dogs each, which were treated with a single dose,one with 2.50–5.36 mg/kg of afoxolaner and 0.50–1.07 mg/kg of milbemycin oxime and another with ivermectin/praziquantel administered at doses of 0.2 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg. Samples were examined using the concentration-flotation technique, one on day 0 before treatment and at 7, 14 and 28 days post-treatment. Both treatments showed a reduction of dogs positive for Toxocara canis. Treatment with afoxolaner/milbemycin oxime decreased the parasite by 78% at 7 days (p = 0.01), 90% at 14 days (p = 0.02) and 96% at 28 days post-treatment (p = 0.0002) compared to 61% at 7 days, 77% at 14 days and 70% at 28 days post-treatment in dogs treated with ivermectin/praziquantel. The group treated with afoxolaner/milbemycin oxime showed a greater decrease in the number of dogs positive for Toxocara canis in comparison with the group that was administered ivermectin/praziquantel.