Efficacy of fluralaner against canine generalized demodicosis

Abstract

Demodicosis is a parasitic dermatopathy, resulting from the excessive proliferation of Demodex mites. The rate
at which this disease is encountered in the pet clinic is high, despite recent advances in the treatment of
the disease. The aim of this study, which was conducted in Brazil, was to analyze the efficacy of fluralaner
in the treatment of demodicosis in dogs. Fifteen dogs with generalized demodicosis that were diagnosed
with Demodex sp. mites from skin scraping were included. All animals were treated with fluralaner at a
dose of 25 mg/kg, following the manufacturer’s recommendations for the treatment of ectoparasites.
The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated based on clinical improvement of the animals and
the time required to obtain two consecutive negative skin scrapes 30 days apart (parasitological cure).
The main clinical signs observed were alopecia (100%; 15/15); erythema (86.7%; 10/15); and hypotrichosis,
papule, crusts, hyperpigmentation, and hyperkeratosis (26.7%; 4/15). Of the 15 animals evaluated, two of
them were excluded for not returning for the second evaluation in 60 days, although they had the first
negative skin scrape. After 30 days, six (46.2%) from 13 animals that concluded the study presented the
first negative skin scraping. At the end of the study, all dogs presented parasitological cure and clinical
improvement, except for three animals. One for developing atopic dermatitis and two that lived in an
animal shelter. In conclusion, a single oral dose of fluralaner is effective in the treatment of generalized
demodicosis in dogs.