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Oral treatment of canine dirofilariasis with levamisole hydrochloride—pilot trial
Author(s) -
ATWELL R. B.,
BALDOCK C.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1979.tb06725.x
Subject(s) - levamisole , dirofilaria immitis , medicine , dose , dirofilariasis , filariasis , hydrochloride , pharmacology , veterinary medicine , helminths , immunology , biology , biochemistry
Four dogs with natural infestation of Dirofilaria immitis were treated for 21 days with levamisole hydrochloride at dosages of 20 mg and 10 mg/kg bodyweight. Autopsy revealed at least 50% mortality of filaria. Signs of toxicity with the higher dosage disappeared after cessation of treatment. Levamisole hydrochloride affects both circulating microfilaria (mf) (Mills & Amis, 1975) and adult filaria Dirofilaria immitis , and various dose regimes have been used with variable results, (Bradley & Alford, 1977; Garlick, 1976; Boring & Shepherd, 1974). This communication describes a pilot trial involving a 3 week oral dose schedule of levamisole hydrochloride at 20 mg and 10 mg active ingredient (ai)/kg body weight daily.