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

<jats:p>The efficacy of NexGard<jats:sup>®</jats:sup> and NexGard Spectra<jats:sup>®</jats:sup> 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 <jats:italic>Sarcoptes</jats:italic> 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<jats:sup>®</jats:sup> or NexGard Spectra<jats:sup>®</jats:sup> twice, one month apart per label instructions. To determine efficacy, live <jats:italic>Sarcoptes</jats:italic> 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 <jats:italic>Sarcoptes</jats:italic> mite counts, was 98.9% and 99.7% for NexGard<jats:sup>®</jats:sup>-treated (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 38) and 99.6% and 100% for NexGard Spectra<jats:sup>®</jats:sup>-treated dogs (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 27) at one month and two months after treatment initiation (<jats:italic>p</jats:italic> < 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 (<jats:italic>p</jats:italic> = 0.0001, both treatments). In conclusion, this field study confirms that both NexGard<jats:sup>®</jats:sup> and NexGard Spectra<jats:sup>®</jats:sup> administered twice one month apart provide an effective and safe treatment against sarcoptic mange in dogs.</jats:p>