Efficacy of Oral Lotilaner in Controlling Clinical Signs in Cats Naturally Infested With Lynxacarus radovskyi
Yasmin da Mota de Magalhães, Débora Moraes Marques, Luísa Xavier Christ, Diefrey Ribeiro Campos, Julio Israel FernandesABSTRACT
Background
Lynxacarus radovskyi is a pilicolous mite that may cause pruritus and coat or skin lesions in cats. Evidence regarding the efficacy of oral lotilaner for the treatment of feline lynxacariasis remains limited.
Hypothesis/Objectives
To evaluate the parasitological and clinical efficacy of oral lotilaner in cats naturally infested with L. radovskyi .
Animals
Twenty client‐owned cats naturally infested with L. radovskyi .
Materials and Methods
A prospective, longitudinal, parallel‐group study was conducted with 20 cats allocated to a treated group ( n = 10) or an untreated control group ( n = 10). Treated cats received oral lotilaner on Day (D)0 and D30. Parasitological assessment was performed every 7 days from D0 to D63 using trichograms obtained from three anatomical sites and scored using a semi‐quantitative scale. Pruritus and clinical lesion scores also were recorded.
Results
Treatment with lotilaner resulted in a significant reduction in parasitological scores from D7 onwards ( p = 0.0033), while untreated cats remained persistently infested. Mite‐count reduction increased progressively, reaching 98.0% at D35 and 100% from D42 onwards after the second administration. Pruritus and clinical lesion scores also decreased significantly compared with baseline ( p = 0.0117).
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
Oral lotilaner administered twice (D0 and D30) was effective for the treatment of feline lynxacariasis under natural infestation conditions, resulting in rapid parasite reduction and significant clinical improvement.