Efficacy of moxidectin 6-month injectable and milbemycin oxime/lufenuron tablets against naturally acquired toxocara canis infections in dogs

The efficacy of moxidectin injection (ProHeart 6 Sustained Release Injectable for Dogs, Fort Dodge Animal Health) against naturally acquired infections of Toxocara canis was compared with that of milbemycin oxime/lufenuron tablets (Sentinel Flavor Tabs, Novartis Animal Health). Eighteen dogs with naturally acquired infections of T. canis were ranked by egg counts and randomly assigned to treatment with moxidectin (170 micro g/kg), milbemycin (500 micro g/kg)/lufenuron (10 mg/kg), or to an untreated control group (six dogs per treatment). Dogs were euthanized 7 days after treatment for recovery, identification, and enumeration of parasites by species. There was no apparent efficacy for moxidectin against T. canis. Conversely, milbemycin oxime/lufenuron was 91.5 % effective against naturally occurring infections of this canine parasite.