Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10553/55877
Title: Variation of the adulticide protocol for the treatment of canine heartworm infection: Can it be shorter?
Authors: Carretón Gomez, Elena 
Falcón Cordón, Yaiza 
Falcón Cordón, Soraya 
Morchón García, Rodrigo 
Matos Rivero, Jorge Isidoro 
Montoya Alonso, José Alberto 
UNESCO Clasification: 240112 Parasitología animal
3109 Ciencias veterinarias
Keywords: Heartworm
Adulticide treatment
Melarsomine dihydrochloride
Canine dirofilariosis
Issue Date: 2019
Journal: Veterinary Parasitology 
Abstract: The treatment of canine heartworm has been modified over the years, adding improvements for greater efficacy, safeness and better prognosis. Currently, the recommended adulticidal protocol consists of the administration of three doses of melarsomine dihydrochloride, preceded by the administration of macrocyclic lactones over two to three months. The objective of this study was to evaluate a variation of the adulticide protocol of heartworm in 76 dogs infected by Dirofilaria immitis, which consists of the pre-administration of macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin) during a single month. On the day of diagnosis, presence of circulating microfilariae was determined and an echocardiography was performed to assess the parasite burden. Treatment began on day 0, with doxycycline for 30 days (10 mg/kg BID) and monthly ivermectin (6mcg/kg). On day 30, the first dose of melarsomine dihydrochloride was administered, followed by a second and third dose on days 60 and 61, respectively. On day 90, the dogs were examined and discharged. Six months after the last dose, all dogs were negative to the presence of antigens and amicrofilaremic. Also, 38.1% of animals were evaluated by echocardiography, showing absence of adult parasites. It is considered that the ineffectiveness of melarsomine against worms <4 months should be avoided by the previous administration of macrocyclic lactones for two to three months, killing larvae <2 months while older filariae are allowed to mature to be susceptible to melarsomine dihydrochloride. With this protocol, this gap would be covered for the 2nd and 3rd injections, when worms would be four months and older. In addition, there is evidence that melarsomine is effective against worms under four months and macrocyclic lactones have some efficacy against heartworms older than two months. This modification allows a faster elimination of heartworms and a better compliance from the owners of the infected dogs.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10553/55877
ISSN: 0304-4017
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.06.006
Source: Veterinary Parasitology [ISSN 0304-4017], v. 271, p. 54-56, (Julio 2019)
Appears in Collections:Artículos
Unknown (182,23 kB)
Show full item record

SCOPUSTM   
Citations

10
checked on Nov 3, 2024

WEB OF SCIENCETM
Citations

7
checked on Nov 3, 2024

Page view(s)

91
checked on Jan 13, 2024

Download(s)

54
checked on Jan 13, 2024

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Share



Export metadata



Items in accedaCRIS are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.