Alleviating lesions of chronic progressive lymphedema in Belgian draft horses by successfully treating Chorioptes bovis infestation with moxidectin 0.5% pour-on.
Abstract: The aim of this prospective, randomized, single-blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy of a moxidectin pour-on solution for the treatment of Chorioptes bovis infestation in Belgian draft horses, and in addition, to evaluate the effect of this treatment on the clinical signs and lesions associated with chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL). Nineteen privately owned Belgian draft horses were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (moxidectin pour-on formulation, n = 10) or a placebo group (phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), n = 9). On Day 0, all 19 horses tested positive for the presence of C. bovis in superficial skin scrapings. Prior to treatment, all feathering on the distal limbs of the horses was clipped. Treatment was applied twice (Day 0 and 7). Pour-on moxidectin (Cydectin 0.5% Pour-On; Zoetis) was evenly distributed over the distal legs of the horses at a dose of 1.5 mg moxidectin/kg body weight. Animals in the placebo group were treated with PBS. Pretreatment and follow-up examinations consisted of counting living mites in superficial skin scrapings, scoring pruritus, and scoring mange-associated and CPL-associated lesions (skinfold score and skin lesion score). Horses in the placebo group and moxidectin group were followed up to 8 weeks and 24 weeks after the first treatment, respectively. On Day 14, no living mites were found in any of the horses in the moxidectin group (p = 0.013). These horses continued to remain free of mites, until the final sampling conducted at 24 weeks following the initial application of moxidectin, when three horses again showed living mites in skin scrapings. Treatment with moxidectin resulted in a significant reduction of both CPL-associated skin lesion scores (p = 0.003) and pruritus scores (p = 0.001) after only seven days. By Day 56, still no signs of pruritus (p < 0.0001) were detected, with significant improvement of mange-associated lesions (p < 0.0001). Although the skinfold score did not show a significant reduction by Day 56, the score for skin lesions associated with CPL had significantly improved (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that pour-on moxidectin, at a high dose and applied directly to the mite predilection site, was an effective treatment for C. bovis infestation in feathered draft horses, providing positive effects on CPL lesions, pruritus and mange-associated lesions. Furthermore, these findings emphasize the therapeutic significance of addressing mange in the management of CPL-affected draft horses.
Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2023-11-10 PubMed ID: 37979391DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110074Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Veterinary
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article showcases a clinical trial aimed at testing the effectiveness of using moxidectin pour-on solution to treat Chorioptes bovis infestations in Belgian draft horses. The results indicated successful treatment leading to significant decreases in both associated skin lesions and pruritus after seven days.
Objective of the Study
- The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, single-blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical trial, aimed at examining the efficacy of a moxidectin pour-on solution for treating Chorioptes bovis infestations in Belgian draft horses. The trial also aimed to assess how this treatment affects the clinical signs and lesions related to chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL).
Methodology of the Study
- Nineteen privately owned Belgian draft horses were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (10 horses received moxidectin pour-on formulation), or a placebo group (9 horses received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)).
- All horses tested positive for the presence of C. bovis in superficial skin scrapings before the start of treatment.
- The treatment was applied twice at the start (Day 0) and one week after initially applying (Day 7). The moxidectin solution was evenly distributed over the horses’ distal legs at a dose of 1.5 mg moxidectin per kg body weight.
- The horses were examined before treatment and for up to 24 weeks after the first treatment. These examinations included counting living mites in superficial skin scrapings, scoring the severity of itching (pruritus), and scoring skin lesions associated with both mange and CPL.
Results of the Study
- On Day 14, no living mites were found in any of the horses in the moxidectin group. This effect persisted until the final examination at 24 weeks, when three horses had living mites in skin scrapings.
- The treatment with moxidectin resulted in a significant reduction in both CPL-associated skin lesion scores and pruritus scores after only seven days.
- By Day 56, pruritus was completely absent and mange-associated lesions had significantly improved. While the skinfold score hadn’t shown a significant reduction by Day 56, the score for skin lesions associated with CPL had notably improved.
Conclusion of the Study
- The results confirmed that using pour-on moxidectin, applied directly to the site where mites infest, was an effective treatment for C. bovis infestation in draft horses. The treatment significantly improved CPL lesions, pruritus, and mange-associated lesions.
- This study demonstrates the therapeutic importance of treating mange in managing chronic progressive lymphedema in draft horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Brys M, Claerebout E, Chiers K.
(2023).
Alleviating lesions of chronic progressive lymphedema in Belgian draft horses by successfully treating Chorioptes bovis infestation with moxidectin 0.5% pour-on.
Vet Parasitol, 324, 110074.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110074 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: Marieke.Brys@UGent.be.
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Psoroptidae
- Belgium
- Prospective Studies
- Mite Infestations / veterinary
- Macrolides / therapeutic use
- Mites
- Chronic Disease
- Pruritus / drug therapy
- Pruritus / veterinary
- Lymphedema / drug therapy
- Lymphedema / veterinary
- Lymphedema / pathology
- Insecticides
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / pathology
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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