Efficacy of lotilaner for treating rabbits naturally infested by Psoroptes ovis and Leporacarus gibbus, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a single 20 mg/kg dose of lotilaner for treating rabbits with concomitant infection by P. ovis and L. gibbus. Fourteen rabbits with diagnoses of otitis and fur infection, caused respectively by P. ovis and L. gibbus, were included. Samples of otic crust were collected with tweezers, weighed and examined microscopically to identify ectoparasites, which were counted to determine the number of mites per gram of crust. Hair samples were collected from three areas of 1 cm² in different regions of the body, for examination under a stereomicroscope to determine occurrences of the mite L. gibbus. The animals in the treated group received a single oral dose of 20 mg/kg of lotilaner and were evaluated on days 0, +3, +7, +14, +21, +28 and + 35. Parasitological efficacy of 100% for controlling P. ovis was observed after seven days. Total clinical remission was reached 14 days after treatment. For L. gibbus, parasitological cure was obtained seven days after treatment. We concluded that a single dose of lotilaner was effective for controlling P. ovis and L. gibbus, leading to parasitological control and clinical improvement of the animals.