Efficacy of Oral Lotilaner in Controlling Clinical Signs in Cats Naturally Infested With Lynxacarus radovskyi

BACKGROUND: Lynxacarus radovskyi is a pilicolous mite that may cause pruritus and coat or skin lesions in cats. Evidence regarding the efficacy of oral lotilaner for the treatment of feline lynxacariasis remains limited. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the parasitological and clinical efficacy of oral lotilaner in cats naturally infested with L. radovskyi. ANIMALS: Twenty client-owned cats naturally infested with L. radovskyi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, longitudinal, parallel-group study was conducted with 20 cats allocated to a treated group (n = 10) or an untreated control group (n = 10). Treated cats received oral lotilaner on Day (D)0 and D30. Parasitological assessment was performed every 7 days from D0 to D63 using trichograms obtained from three anatomical sites and scored using a semi-quantitative scale. Pruritus and clinical lesion scores also were recorded. RESULTS: Treatment with lotilaner resulted in a significant reduction in parasitological scores from D7 onwards (p = 0.0033), while untreated cats remained persistently infested. Mite-count reduction increased progressively, reaching 98.0% at D35 and 100% from D42 onwards after the second administration. Pruritus and clinical lesion scores also decreased significantly compared with baseline (p = 0.0117). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral lotilaner administered twice (D0 and D30) was effective for the treatment of feline lynxacariasis under natural infestation conditions, resulting in rapid parasite reduction and significant clinical improvement.