Savadelis Molly D, Coleman Amanda E, Rapoport Gregg S, Sharma Ajay, Sakamoto Kaori, Keys Deborah A, Ohmes Cameon M, Hostetler Joe A, Dzimianski Michael T, Moorhead Andrew R
Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
J Vet Intern Med. 2020 Sep;34(5):1734-1745. doi: 10.1111/jvim.15853. Epub 2020 Jul 21.
Administration of moxidectin topically and doxycycline PO has been utilized experimentally as an alternative treatment for heartworm disease. However, clinical effects of this protocol remain poorly characterized.
To evaluate the clinical and postmortem findings associated with administration of doxycycline and monthly 10% imidacloprid + 2.5% moxidectin (IMD + MOX, Advantage Multi/Advocate) to Dirofilaria immitis-experimentally infected as compared to nontreated control dogs.
Sixteen purpose-bred, female, Beagle dogs.
Prospective, blinded, experimental study. Animals with surgically transplanted adult heartworms were randomized into 2 study groups of equal size: a nontreated control group (n = 8) and an IMD + MOX and doxycycline-treated group (n = 8). Randomization was performed using a complete block design according to circulating microfilarial concentrations, measured before treatment. Serum biochemical profiles, CBCs, thoracic radiographs and echocardiograms were performed prior to and 3 weeks after transplantation, and monthly for 10 months. Postmortem gross and histopathologic evaluations were performed.
Compared to control animals, mean ± SD serum alanine aminotransferase (181 ± 203 U/L vs 33 ± 7 U/L; P < .0001) and alkaline phosphatase (246 ± 258 U/L vs 58 ± 19 U/L; P < .0001) activities were significantly higher in the treated group on day 28. Radiographic and echocardiographic evidence of heartworm disease was observed in both groups; however, no significant differences in these variables were noted between groups. Mean ± SD pulmonary arterial thrombus score was significantly higher in the treated vs nontreated group (3.9 ± 0.4 and 1.5 ± 2.1, respectively; P = .01).
The treatment protocol was well-tolerated with no clinically relevant adverse effects for any variable evaluated during the observational period.
局部使用莫西菌素和口服多西环素已被实验用作犬恶丝虫病的替代治疗方法。然而，该方案的临床效果仍未得到充分描述。
评估与未治疗的对照犬相比，给实验感染犬恶丝虫的犬口服多西环素并每月外用10%吡虫啉+2.5%莫西菌素（IMD+MOX，Advantage Multi/Advocate）后的临床和尸检结果。
16只经专门培育的雌性比格犬。
前瞻性、盲法实验研究。将通过手术移植成年犬恶丝虫的动物随机分为两个大小相等的研究组：未治疗的对照组（n=8）和IMD+MOX及多西环素治疗组（n=8）。根据治疗前测量的循环微丝蚴浓度，采用完全区组设计进行随机分组。在移植前和移植后3周进行血清生化指标、全血细胞计数、胸部X光片和超声心动图检查，并在10个月内每月进行一次检查。进行尸检大体检查和组织病理学评估。
与对照动物相比，治疗组在第28天时血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶（181±203 U/L对33±7 U/L；P<.0001）和碱性磷酸酶（246±258 U/L对58±19 U/L；P<.0001）活性显著更高。两组均观察到犬恶丝虫病的X光片和超声心动图证据；然而，两组之间这些变量无显著差异。治疗组的平均肺动脉血栓评分显著高于未治疗组（分别为3.9±0.4和1.5±2.1；P=.01）。
该治疗方案耐受性良好，在观察期内评估的任何变量均无临床相关不良反应。
