Treatment of canine sarcoptic mange with afoxolaner (NexGard) and afoxolaner plus milbemycin oxime (NexGard Spectra) chewable tablets: efficacy under field conditions in Portugal and Germany.

The efficacy of NexGard and NexGard Spectra against sarcoptic mange in dogs was evaluated in a clinical field study. Skin scrapings from dogs presenting signs suggestive of sarcoptic mange were examined to confirm infestation. A total of 106 dogs were screened at eight sites in Portugal and Germany. In all, 80 dogs that had demonstrated ≥5 live Sarcoptes mites in five skin scrapings were enrolled, scored for specific clinical signs (pruritus; papules and crusts; alopecia), and allocated at random to receive either NexGard or NexGard Spectra twice, one month apart per label instructions. To determine efficacy, live Sarcoptes mites in five skin scrapings per dog were counted, and clinical signs were scored one month and two months after first treatment and compared to pre-treatment (baseline) values. Based on compliance, 65 dogs were determined to be evaluable cases at the end of the study. The efficacy, in terms of reduction of geometric mean live Sarcoptes mite counts, was 98.9% and 99.7% for NexGard-treated (n = 38) and 99.6% and 100% for NexGard Spectra-treated dogs (n = 27) at one month and two months after treatment initiation (p < 0.001, both treatments). Both treatments resulted in a significant improvement in pruritus, papules and crusts, and alopecia one month and two months after treatment initiation (p = 0.0001, both treatments). In conclusion, this field study confirms that both NexGard and NexGard Spectra administered twice one month apart provide an effective and safe treatment against sarcoptic mange in dogs.