The effect of local ivermectin treatment on ear mite infestation in a cat breeding colony

Abstract

The infestation with Otodectes cynotis in a laboratory cat breeding colony, and its apparently successful elimination after local treatment, is described. Breeding animals and kittens were given three treatments, separated by 8—10 days, of ivermectin locally into their ear canals. Samples from ears taken at various post-treatment intervals did not reveal continuing presence of parasites.
Clinical follow-up during 11 months of the breeding animals and nine new litters (34 kittens) gave no indication of remaining mites in the colony.