USE OF LUFENURON FOR TREATMENT OF GENERALIZED DEMODICOSIS IN DOGS

The efficacy of lufenuron for treatment of generalized demodicosis in dogs was investigated. Eleven dogs with generalized demodicosis receiv ed either low-dose lufenuron (mean 13.3 mg kg(-1) once a day on the fi rst 5 days of the month) or high-dose lufenuron (mean 15.8 mg kg(-1) t hree times a week) orally for 2 or 3 months. None of the dogs showed a decrease in mite numbers on monthly examination of deep skin scraping s. To determine levels of orally administered lufenuron in the skin (e pidermis and dermis), three adult dogs were each given lufenuron orall y at a mean dose of 19.3 mg kg(-1) once a day for 5 days. Lufenuron wa s measured in samples of blood and skin collected on days 0, 1, 6, 16, 30, 44 and 60 after administering the drug. Mean skin levels of lufen uron were 10 times the corresponding blood levels. Lufenuron was ineff ective as a treatment for generalized demodicosis in these dogs despit e the fact that high drug levers were achieved in the skin.