Įar mite infestation (“otocariosis”) is very contagious occurs in dogs and cats worldwide and is commonly diagnosed during routine veterinary physical examinations. The life-cycle occurs entirely within the ear, includes four stages (egg, larvae, nymph, adult) and can be completed in about 3 weeks. These mites are non-burrowing obligate parasites belonging to the family Psoroptidae that live mainly on the horizontal and vertical ear canal lining surfaces, but are also occasionally seen on the body (e.g. Otodectes cynotis (“ear mites”) are a common cause of otitis externa, particularly in cats but also in other animals, including dogs, ferrets, foxes and occasionally humans. In this study, fluralaner administered topically to cats and orally or topically to dogs was highly effective against Otodectes cynotis mite infestations. No treatment related adverse events were observed in any dogs or cats enrolled in these studies. All fluralaner-treated animals showed improvement in the amount of cerumen exudation compared with observations performed before treatment. At 14 days after treatment, only 1–2 mites were visible in three dogs (oral treatment: 2 dogs, topical treatment: 1 dog). All dogs treated orally or topically with fluralaner had no mites visible during otoscopic examination at 28 days after treatment. Cats treated topically with fluralaner had no mites visible during otoscopic examination at either 14 or 28 days after treatment. Similarly, a single oral or topical treatment of dogs with fluralaner reduced the mean mite counts by 99.8% ( P < 0.001) at 28 days after treatment. ResultsĪ single topical treatment of cats with fluralaner reduced the mean mite counts by 100% ( P < 0.001) at 28 days after treatment. The efficacy was calculated, based on the results of the ear flushing, by comparing mean live mite counts in the fluralaner treated groups versus the saline solution treated group. Twenty-eight days after treatment, animals were sedated and both ears were flushed to obtain the total number of live mites per animal. Ears of all animals were examined otoscopically for live visible mites and the amount of debris and cerumen before, and 14 and 28 days after treatment.

Cat groups were treated once, either topically with fluralaner at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight or topically with saline solution. Dog groups were treated once, either orally with fluralaner at a minimum dose of 25 mg/kg body weight, topically with fluralaner at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight or topically with saline solution (control).

cynotis and randomly allocated to equal sized groups ( n = 8/group). Twenty-four dogs and sixteen cats were experimentally infested with O. The efficacy of fluralaner for the treatment of Otodectes cynotis infestations in dogs and cats was evaluated after oral (dogs) or topical administration (dogs and cats).

Fly strike dermatitis in cats