Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of an imidacloprid 10 %/moxidectin 1 % spot-on formulation (Advocate®, Advantage® Multi) in cats naturally infected by Capillaria aerophila.

Capillaria aerophila is a parasitic nematode affecting the respiratory tract of wildlife, dogs, cats and, occasionally, humans. Infected cats may be asymptomatic, or show various respiratory signs resembling to a chronic bronchitis. No products are licensed in Europe for the treatment of cat capillariosis to date. The aim of the present study was to provide further evidence on the efficacy and safety of a spot-on formulation containing moxidectin 1% (w/v) and imidacloprid 10% (w/v) (Advocate®/Advantage® Multi, Bayer) in the treatment of feline C. aerophila infection when administered once at the approved dose. Efficacy was tested on days 7 ± 1 and 11 ± 1 following treatment on day 0 and compared to pre-treatment faecal egg counts on days -6 ± 2 and -2 ± 2. Forty-one cats were enrolled in two groups: G1, treated with Advocate® (n = 20 cats) and G2, left untreated (n = 21 cats). Cats in G1 cats were negative for C. aerophila faecal egg output at the post-treatment evaluation (efficacy: 100%). Cats in G2 were persistently infected with a mean value of 195.2 EPG. Differences in mean EPG values were statistically significant (p<0.001). Nine out of eleven G1 cats that showed respiratory signs at enrolment fully recovered after the treatment. No adverse events occurred in treated cats. The present study confirmed that Advocate® is efficacious and safe in treating lung capillariosis in naturally infected cats.