Background

Amitraz is commonly used as a dip for the treatment of mange in dogs.

Aim

We report on its first use as a spot-on formulation, combined with metaflumizone, against demodectic and sarcoptic mange.

Methods

Sixteen dogs infested with Demodex sp. and sixteen infested with Sarcoptes scabiei were allocated to groups of eight. Upon study inclusion mite numbers were estimated from skin scrapings and clinical signs of mange evaluated and described individually. All dogs were treated topically at 20 mg kg^-1 of both metaflumizone and amitraz; groups differed only in the interval of treatment, namely 28 or 14 days. Sarcoptes-infested dogs were treated on either two of four occasions, whereas Demodex-infested dogs were treated on four or six occasions. Following treatment mites were counted and clinical signs evaluated at regular intervals. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of a reduction in mite numbers and clinical signs of mange.

Results

 Treatment of Demodex-infested dogs at 28-day or 14-day intervals resulted in a reduction in mite numbers of 94% and 99%, respectively and an improvement in clinical signs.

 In the Sarcoptes-infested dogs treatment at 28-day or 14-day intervals resulted in a rapid reduction in mite numbers and improved clinical signs. Cure rates were 75% and 83% for the 28-day and 14-day treatment regimens, respectively.

Conclusions

The results of these studies indicate that ProMeris^TM for dogs is an easy to use, safe and efficacious acaricide that can potentially be administered in conjunction with other supportive therapies to treat demodectic and sarcoptic mange.