An Accessible Alternative to Melarsomine: 'Moxi-Doxy' for Treatment of Adult Heartworm Infection in Dogs
| Autor: | Linda S Jacobson, Brian A DiGangi |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
accessible veterinary care
0301 basic medicine Drug medicine.medical_specialty Treatment protocol Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) 040301 veterinary sciences adulticide treatment Dirofilaria immitis Veterinary medicine media_common.quotation_subject heartworm Melarsomine Review 0403 veterinary science 03 medical and health sciences chemistry.chemical_compound Internal medicine parasitic diseases SF600-1100 medicine melarsomine Effective treatment american_football media_common Doxycycline doxycycline General Veterinary american_football.player biology business.industry 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences 030108 mycology & parasitology biology.organism_classification Moxidectin chemistry Veterinary Science moxidectin business slow kill medicine.drug |
| Zdroj: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Vol 8 (2021) Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| ISSN: | 2297-1769 |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fvets.2021.702018 |
| Popis: | Canine heartworm infection, caused by the filarial parasite Dirofilaria immitis, represents a serious and expanding animal welfare concern that is expected to increase due to the effects of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. A body of evidence has emerged to support the use of a non-arsenical adulticide treatment protocol, using moxidectin and doxycycline to kill adult heartworms over a prolonged period. While a three-dose protocol using the arsenical drug melarsomine is currently the safest and most effective treatment for heartworm infection, this drug is not available in some countries and is inaccessible for many owners and animal shelters. Moxidectin-doxycycline (moxi-doxy) provides a viable alternative to no treatment at all, in cases where arsenical treatment is not possible. Based on current evidence, the most effective non-arsenical treatment regimen is doxycycline 10 mg/kg PO q 12 or 24 h for 28 days, combined with topical moxidectin at label dose. Moxidectin is repeated monthly until no antigen detected (NAD) status is confirmed. Sustained release injectable moxidectin, in combination with doxycycline, may provide an alternative in remote regions or in settings where significant compliance or accessibility concerns exist, but more studies are needed. In moxi-doxy protocols, doxycycline should be repeated annually until NAD. This review summarizes the safety and efficacy of moxi-doxy, addresses controversies surrounding this treatment approach, and provides detailed recommendations for treatment regimens and post-treatment testing. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|