PROPHYLACTIC EFFICACY OF MILBEMYCIN OXIME AGAINST MULTIPLE INFECTION OF DOGS WITH DIROFILARIA-IMMITIS

In order to examine the prophylactic effects of milbemycin oxime (MO) against Dirofilaria immitis infection, experiments were carried out un der multiple infection with D. immitis. Ten filaria-free beagles of ag e 4 to 8 months were each inoculated with a total number of 480 larvae 12 times at intervals of 15 days over a period of 6 months, and MO wa s given monthly for the 6 months at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg. The infectio n rate in the medicated group of dogs was nil, this suggesting complet e protection of the infection, while in the non-medicated control grou p it ranged from 6.5 to 14.8% (mean, 11.4%).