Model development to assess the impact of a preventive treatment with sarolaner and moxidectin on Dirofilaria immitis infection dynamics in dogs

• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-025-06734-x
• Publication Date: 2025-03-12T07:15:54Z
• Authors: Emilie Hendrickx; Thomas Geurden; Cedric Marsboom
• Keywords: Moxidectin; Dirofilariasis; Parasitic Disease

Abstract Background Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-transmitted filarial parasite causing heartworm disease in dogs. The may cause significant burden to the dog population high prevalence areas and mainly managed through prophylactic treatments. Methods In this modelling study, effect of treatment with moxidectin sarolaner on dynamics was investigated A compartmental model developed investigate different epidemiological settings considering values for host preference. Results When mosquito preference dogs low, compliance only 40% decreases proportion infectious mosquitoes however increases, an exponential increase observed, higher required. transmission environments, preference, (up 100%) required have impact number infected animals. Notably, scenarios towards dogs, more are exposed blood meal, leading mortality these resulting fewer Conclusions preventive efficacy, as measured by non-infected increases increasing compliance, but extent differs setting. Adding prevention has complimentary survival transmission, although depends settings, emphasizing true complexity vector-borne disease. Graphical abstract