Field study on the treatment of the feline ear canker caused by Otodectes cynotis with selamectin (StrongholdA®)

Otacariasis due to Otodectes cynotis (HERING, 1858) is a very frequent disease of the external ear canal in cats. Otodectes cynotis is the most common mange mite in carnivores. Several antiparasiticides are licensed for treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a formulation containing selamectin (Stronghold(A (R)) Spot-on) for eradication of ear mites in cats under field conditions. Sixteen cats with otacariasis, presented in a small animal clinic, were treated with a single spot-on application of selamectin (Stronghold(A (R)) Spot-on, 6-17.3 mg/kg bdw.). On clinical and parasitological assessment days 14 and 28 clinical signs had subsided in ten cats. Furthermore all ear swabs were negative for mites and their developmental stages on D 14 and D 28. Selamectin was a practical and well-tolerated treatment of feline otacariasis for the cats included in this study. It was very well tolerated in all cats, local skin irritations on the neck did not occur.