Efficacy of a novel chewable tablet (Credelio Quattro™) containing lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel, and pyrantel for the treatment and control of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus infections in dogs

Abstract Background While generally harmless to dogs, the cestode species Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis have significant zoonotic importance, causing cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis in humans, respectively. Regular deworming is essential to treat intestina...

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Main Authors: Samuel Charles, Gertraut Altreuther, Xinshuo Wang, Scott Wiseman, Craig R. Reinemeyer, Daniel E. Snyder, Michael Ulrich, Padraig Doherty, Lisa Young
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Parasites & Vectors
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06735-w
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author Samuel Charles
Gertraut Altreuther
Xinshuo Wang
Scott Wiseman
Craig R. Reinemeyer
Daniel E. Snyder
Michael Ulrich
Padraig Doherty
Lisa Young
author_facet Samuel Charles
Gertraut Altreuther
Xinshuo Wang
Scott Wiseman
Craig R. Reinemeyer
Daniel E. Snyder
Michael Ulrich
Padraig Doherty
Lisa Young
author_sort Samuel Charles
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background While generally harmless to dogs, the cestode species Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis have significant zoonotic importance, causing cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis in humans, respectively. Regular deworming is essential to treat intestinal cestode infections in dogs and to reduce environmental egg contamination and thus the subsequent zoonotic risk of infection to intermediate hosts and humans. The studies described here evaluated the efficacy of a new novel chewable tablet combination containing lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel and pyrantel (Credelio Quattro, Elanco Animal Health) against E. granulosus and E. multilocularis infections in dogs. Methods Four negative-controlled, masked, randomized laboratory studies were conducted. Two studies each evaluated the efficacy of Credelio Quattro at the minimum dosages of 20.0 mg/kg lotilaner, 0.02 mg/kg moxidectin, 5.0 mg/kg praziquantel and 5.0 mg/kg pyrantel against E. granulosus (Studies 1 and 2) and E. multilocularis (Studies 3 and 4). Studies 2 and 4 also included treatment groups that received praziquantel alone or lotilaner alone, at the same minimum dosages, to assess whether lotilaner, moxidectin or pyrantel interfered with the activity of praziquantel in Credelio Quattro against these two cestode species. In Studies 1 and 3, 16 purpose-bred dogs were divided into two groups of eight, while in Studies 2 and 4, 32 dogs were divided into four groups of eight. Dogs were experimentally inoculated with protoscolices on Day – 28 for E. granulosus studies and on Day – 18 or – 20 for E. multilocularis studies. Credelio Quattro, placebo, praziquantel, or lotilaner tablets were administered orally at the lower half of the dosage range on Day 0. Efficacy was calculated based on the number of worms recovered at necropsy, 4 or 5 days post-treatment, in the treated group compared to the control. Results Credelio Quattro was well tolerated in all dogs. Based on geometric mean worm counts, Credelio Quattro was 100% effective against both E. granulosus and E. multilocularis. Conclusions Credelio Quattro administered once orally at the minimum dosages of 20 mg/kg of lotilaner, 0.02 mg/kg of moxidectin, 5.0 mg/kg of praziquantel and 5.0 mg/kg of pyrantel was safe and effective for the treatment and control of adult E. granulosus and E. multilocularis in dogs. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-e9d3436ee9c24568a9685dca870bff482025-08-20T03:01:38ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052025-03-011811610.1186/s13071-025-06735-wEfficacy of a novel chewable tablet (Credelio Quattro™) containing lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel, and pyrantel for the treatment and control of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus infections in dogsSamuel Charles0Gertraut Altreuther1Xinshuo Wang2Scott Wiseman3Craig R. Reinemeyer4Daniel E. Snyder5Michael Ulrich6Padraig Doherty7Lisa Young8Elanco Animal HealthElanco Animal Health GmbHElanco Animal HealthElanco Animal HealthEast Tennessee Clinical Research, IncDaniel E. Snyder DVM, Ph.D. Consulting LLCCheri-Hill KennelsIorras Product Development Ltd.Elanco Animal HealthAbstract Background While generally harmless to dogs, the cestode species Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis have significant zoonotic importance, causing cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis in humans, respectively. Regular deworming is essential to treat intestinal cestode infections in dogs and to reduce environmental egg contamination and thus the subsequent zoonotic risk of infection to intermediate hosts and humans. The studies described here evaluated the efficacy of a new novel chewable tablet combination containing lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel and pyrantel (Credelio Quattro, Elanco Animal Health) against E. granulosus and E. multilocularis infections in dogs. Methods Four negative-controlled, masked, randomized laboratory studies were conducted. Two studies each evaluated the efficacy of Credelio Quattro at the minimum dosages of 20.0 mg/kg lotilaner, 0.02 mg/kg moxidectin, 5.0 mg/kg praziquantel and 5.0 mg/kg pyrantel against E. granulosus (Studies 1 and 2) and E. multilocularis (Studies 3 and 4). Studies 2 and 4 also included treatment groups that received praziquantel alone or lotilaner alone, at the same minimum dosages, to assess whether lotilaner, moxidectin or pyrantel interfered with the activity of praziquantel in Credelio Quattro against these two cestode species. In Studies 1 and 3, 16 purpose-bred dogs were divided into two groups of eight, while in Studies 2 and 4, 32 dogs were divided into four groups of eight. Dogs were experimentally inoculated with protoscolices on Day – 28 for E. granulosus studies and on Day – 18 or – 20 for E. multilocularis studies. Credelio Quattro, placebo, praziquantel, or lotilaner tablets were administered orally at the lower half of the dosage range on Day 0. Efficacy was calculated based on the number of worms recovered at necropsy, 4 or 5 days post-treatment, in the treated group compared to the control. Results Credelio Quattro was well tolerated in all dogs. Based on geometric mean worm counts, Credelio Quattro was 100% effective against both E. granulosus and E. multilocularis. Conclusions Credelio Quattro administered once orally at the minimum dosages of 20 mg/kg of lotilaner, 0.02 mg/kg of moxidectin, 5.0 mg/kg of praziquantel and 5.0 mg/kg of pyrantel was safe and effective for the treatment and control of adult E. granulosus and E. multilocularis in dogs. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06735-wPraziquantelEfficacyCestodeEchinococcus granulosusEchinococcus multilocularis
spellingShingle Samuel Charles
Gertraut Altreuther
Xinshuo Wang
Scott Wiseman
Craig R. Reinemeyer
Daniel E. Snyder
Michael Ulrich
Padraig Doherty
Lisa Young
Efficacy of a novel chewable tablet (Credelio Quattro™) containing lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel, and pyrantel for the treatment and control of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus infections in dogs
Parasites & Vectors
Praziquantel
Efficacy
Cestode
Echinococcus granulosus
Echinococcus multilocularis
title Efficacy of a novel chewable tablet (Credelio Quattro™) containing lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel, and pyrantel for the treatment and control of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus infections in dogs
title_full Efficacy of a novel chewable tablet (Credelio Quattro™) containing lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel, and pyrantel for the treatment and control of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus infections in dogs
title_fullStr Efficacy of a novel chewable tablet (Credelio Quattro™) containing lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel, and pyrantel for the treatment and control of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus infections in dogs
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy of a novel chewable tablet (Credelio Quattro™) containing lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel, and pyrantel for the treatment and control of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus infections in dogs
title_short Efficacy of a novel chewable tablet (Credelio Quattro™) containing lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel, and pyrantel for the treatment and control of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus infections in dogs
title_sort efficacy of a novel chewable tablet credelio quattro™ containing lotilaner moxidectin praziquantel and pyrantel for the treatment and control of echinococcus multilocularis and e granulosus infections in dogs
topic Praziquantel
Efficacy
Cestode
Echinococcus granulosus
Echinococcus multilocularis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06735-w
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