Moxidectin is a macrocyclic lactone with a broad spectrum of activity similar to ivermectin. It is effective against roundworms (gastrointestinal, respiratory, renal, in the skin, etc.) and, depending on the delivery form and the dosage also against a number of external parasites such as lice, mites and various myiasis. However, it is ineffective against tapeworms and flukes, and at the usual use recommendations it doesn't control fleas, stable flies, mosquitoes, horse flies, multi-host ticks (e.g. Amblyomma spp, Dermacentor spp, Haemaphysalis spp, Ixodes spp, Rhipicephalus spp, etc.) and several other external parasites.
Moxidectin is moderately used in livestock, mainly in pour-ons, drenches and injectables, and in oral pastes and gels for horses. Use in pets is scarce, only a few tablets and injectables. It is not used against agricultural or household pests
In the last years it has been increasingly used in some countries against cattle ticks (Boophilus = Rhipicephalus microplus) and horn & buffalo flies (Haematobia irritans). Against cattle ticks, both as an injectable (at 0.2 mg/kg) and as a pour-on (0.5 mg/kg) control is usually sufficient (>90%) but without knock-down effect, i.e. the treated animals need 7-10 days to become more or less tick free. Control of horn & buffalo flies is usually incomplete (<80%).
Unfortunately, resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to all macrocyclic lactones in sheep, goats, cattle and horses is a major problem in numerous countries. Not so yet in pets, swine or poultry.
The table below indicates some usual dosing recommendations for moxidectin issued by manufacturers or documented in the scientific literature. They may not be approved in some countries.
| Dosing recommendations for MOXIDECTIN |
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| DOGS | ||
| Warning!: Tolerance and safety margin in dogs with the MDR-1 mutation (e.g. Collies) sensitive to ivermectin are higher for moxidectin than for ivermectin. However, for such dogs the recommended dose should not be exceeded. Dogs with the MDR-1 mutation treated with 90 mcg/kg moxidectin (30x the recommended dose) showed neurologocal symptoms. | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against moxidectin-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Dirofilaria immitis: microfilariae | 3 mcg/kg monthly for prevention |
| Oral | Demodex canis | 0.4 mg/kg/day, during 50-80 days! |
| Oral | Sarcoptes scabiei | 0.2-0.25 mg/kg weekly during 3-6 weeks |
| Topical | Gastrointestinal roundworms | 2.5 mg/kg |
| Topical | Crenosoma vulpis | 2.5 mg/kg |
| Topical | Capillaria aerophila | 2.5 mg/kg |
| Topical | Sarcoptes scabiei | 2.5 mg/kg, rep after 4 weeks |
| Topical | Demodex canis | 2.5 mg/kg weekly until 2 consecutive negative skin scrapping at 4 weeks interval |
| Topical | Otodectes cynotis | 2.5 mg/kg, rep after 4 weeks |
| Topical | Dirofilaria immitis: microfilariae | 2.5 mg/kg monthly for prevention |
| Topical | Dirofilaria repens microfilariae | 2.5 mg/kg monthly for prevention |
| Topical | Angiostrongylus vasorum | 2.5 mg/kg |
| Subcutaneous | Ancylostoma spp (prenatal prev.) | 1 mg/kg on days 5 y 8 prior to birth |
| Subcutaneous | Toxocara canis, (prenatal prev.) | 1 mg/kg on days 5 y 13 prior to birth |
| Subcutaneous | Sarcoptes scabiei | 0.2-0.25 mg/kg weekly, during 3-6 weeks |
| Subcutaneous | Dirofilaria immitis: microfilariae | 0.17-0.27 mg/kg, prevention for 12 months |
| CATS | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against moxidectin-susceptible parasites) |
| Topical | Gastrointestinal roundworms | 0.5 mg/kg |
| Topical | Dirofilaria immitis: microfilariae | 1 mg/kg monthly for prevention |
| Topical | Aelurostrongylus abstrusus | 1 mg/kg |
| Topical | Otodectes cynotis | 1 mg/kg, rep after 4 weeks |
| CATTLE | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against moxidectin-susceptible parasites) |
| Topical | Roundworms | 0.5 mg/kg |
| Topical | External parasites | 0.5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Roundworms | 0.2 mg/kg |
| Subcutaneous | Roundworms | 0.2 mg/kg; at 1 mg/kg longer protection |
| Subcutaneous | Hypoderma spp | 0.1-0.4 mg/kg; at 1 mg/kg longer protection |
| Subcutaneous | Mites | 0.2 mg/kg; at 1 mg/kg longer protection |
| Subcutaneous | Sucking lice | 0.2 mg/kg; ; at 1 mg/kg longer protection |
| SHEEP | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against moxidectin-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Roundworms | 0.5 mg/kg |
| Subcutaneous | Roundworms | 0.2 mg/kg; at 1 mg/kg longer protection |
| Subcutaneous | Oestrus ovis | 0.2 mg/kg; at 1 mg/kg longer protection |
| Subcutaneous | Mites | 0.2 mg/kg; at 1 mg/kg longer protection |
| HORSES | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against moxidectin-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Gastrointestinal roundworms |
0.4 mg/kg |
| Oral | Small strongyles (Cyathostomins) | Prevention: 0.4 mg/kg every 12 weeks |
| Oral | Strongylus vulgaris, (larva migrans) | 0.3-0.5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Dictyocaulus arnfieldi | 0.4 mg/kg |
| Oral | Gasterophilus spp (larvae) | 0.4-0.5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Onchocerca cervicalis | 0.3-0.5 mg/kg |
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In most finished products, efficacy and safety depend not only on the amount of active ingredient(s) but also on their formulations (i.e. the type and amount of so-called inert ingredients), particularly in injectables and in topical pour-ons and spot-ons. These inert ingredients can significantly affect the pharmacokinetic behavior (e.g. absorption through the skin or from the injection site, distribution within the body, spreading throughout the body surface, etc.). Generic products usually contain the same amount of active ingredient(s) as the original product, but often in quite different formulations. In many cases, the curative (therapeutic) efficacy of the different formulations is quite comparable, but the protective (prophylactic) efficacy that determines the length of protection against re-infestations may be rather different.
Dosing recommendations for antiparasitics depend on national regulations. National regulatory authorities determine whether a product is approved for a given indication, i.e. use on a particular host at a specific dose and against a specific parasite. Check the labels of the products available in your country for specific information on approved indications.
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