Anti-worming products for cats (tablets, suspensions and drops): TOP rating of the most effective means for combating helminths in 2021

What will you learn from the article?

1. Where does a cat get worms?
2. Symptoms
3. Types of worms Tapeworms (cestodes)
4. Roundworms (nematodes)
5. Flukes (trematodes)

Helminths (worms in cats) are a very common parasitic disease that can pose a serious threat to the health and life of a pet. From this article you will learn what to do in case of helminthiasis, how to deworm (what anthelmintic drugs to give) and, most importantly, how to prevent your cat from becoming infected with parasites.

Symptoms of helminthic infestations

Due to the varying degrees of pathogenicity, aggression and pronounced tropism of parasites towards certain tissues, organs, and external secretions, the symptoms of a cat’s damage also vary greatly. All signs can be divided into two large groups: general (nonspecific) and local symptoms.

The first group includes the following facts:

1. Sharp (with massive infection) or gradual weight loss of the pet.
2. Changes in behavior. In each specific situation, behavior can be strikingly different, for example, with parasites living in the nervous tissue, irritability, increased excitability, even convulsive syndrome are characteristic. At the same time, in the later stages of the infectious process, pronounced depression of the function of the nervous system is observed, up to coma. For intestinal worms, pathological drowsiness comes to the fore.
3. Changes in appetite and food preferences can be caused by abdominal pain, the development of iron deficiency anemia with a perversion of taste.
4. Due to a pronounced lack of vitamins, minerals, and folic acid, hair loss occurs very early.
5. In some areas of the skin, either pigmented spots or spots with a complete absence of melanin appear.
6. When the parasite is located inside the bile ducts, jaundice of the skin and mucous membrane (oral cavity, sclera of the eyes) quickly develops.
7. A helminthic infestation often becomes an activator of the immune response, which is manifested by fever and excessive sweating in the pet.

Another nonspecific symptom is cramps or single muscle twitches.

The detection of specific symptoms allows one to almost immediately suspect a helminthic infestation:

• Rash around the anus.
• Visual detection of worms in the pet's stool.

Sometimes, instead of a full-fledged worm, helminth eggs are found, which must be reported to the veterinarian (various treatment regimens and dosages).

Types of worms

Helminths are divided into several types: flat, round, tapeworms and flukes. Each of them has types. There is a risk of infection for each of the varieties, but in most cases cats are susceptible to infection with eggs of roundworms and tapeworms. What you can give your cat for worms depends on the type of worms.

Wide tapeworm

The longest worms. In the human body they can reach 11 m in length. In the animal's body - 2 m. Infection occurs when eating raw fish meat. Causes stomach irritation, loss of appetite, decreased activity and weight loss (not overall weight).

Hookworm

They have the smallest eggs and can enter the animal’s body through the skin. But more often they become infected through food that already contains larvae. Hookworms live in the intestines and feed on blood. If infected, small bloody clots will be visible in the animal's stool.

Cestodes

Worms that can reach 70-80 cm in length. Their eggs are quite large and resemble grains of rice in appearance. They can be found near the animal's anus and in feces. Can damage the pulmonary system and cause a severe dry cough.

Nematodes

Outwardly, they resemble threads that are 1.5-2 cm long. Cats most often become infected with such worms by eating feces that contain parasite eggs or by contact with infected animals. If a nursing cat has worms, her kittens may receive nematode eggs through the milk.

Liver fluke

Located on the lining of the liver. The gallbladder and pancreas also suffer from the liver fluke. Throughout infection, pain in the liver becomes stable. Infection occurs through food, especially through raw meat of river fish and river water.

Ascaris

Outwardly they resemble Italian pasta, the length often does not exceed 5-5.5 cm. Ascaris causes diarrhea due to the presence of its own waste products. And if left untreated for a long time, it clogs the intestines, thereby causing constipation. It often provokes allergies because the intestinal walls lose their integrity and undigested food enters the bloodstream.

Toxocara

Roundworms reaching a length of 4-5 cm. They are located in the intestines and gall bladder. It is toxocara that causes constipation and can cause allergies and high body temperature. They can be infected by licking the genitals. For kittens, they are especially dangerous due to their size, as they can rupture the intestines.

Cucumber tapeworm

In the body of a cat, it can reach 30 cm in length. They are dangerous because they cling to the intestinal walls with their cone-shaped processes, thereby destroying the mucous membrane. Cats that have fleas are susceptible to infection. They are the ones who carry cucumber tapeworm eggs.

Mechanisms of action of anthelmintic drugs

The pharmaceutical market is constantly updated with new products for the prevention and treatment of helminthic infestations in cats. The wide variety of drugs is due to the rapid adaptation of parasites to the chemical components of the drugs.

The main mechanisms of action of anthelmintic drugs include:

1. Depression of the nervous system. Drugs in this group were the very first to appear on the shelves of veterinary pharmacies, and remain relevant today. The active components block the transmission of the parasite's nerve impulse, stopping its vital activity. All drugs in this group have a wide spectrum of action, but pose a danger to the pet itself. Manufacturers claim that the components of the product are not absorbed in the cat’s intestines, but side effects often refute this claim.
2. Paralysis of parasite muscles. The principle of operation is similar to the means of the first group. There are also a number of side effects. In case of overdose, symptoms of acute poisoning with organophosphorus agents are observed.
3. Medicines can affect the worms' metabolism. Most often, there is a change in enzyme activity or replacement of vital nutrients with their inactive counterparts.

There is a fourth group of drugs, the mechanism of which is associated with a direct damaging effect on the outer shell of the worm. Due to the presence of enzymes or their metabolites, they can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea in your pet.

The modern pharmaceutical market also offers anthelmintic drugs for special groups of cats (pregnant, lactating, kittens, elderly and weakened pets). The chemical formulas of such products have a lower concentration of the active substance.

There are home remedies for worms in cats, but their mechanism of action is a local irritant effect that causes increased intestinal motility.

Where can a cat become infected with worms?

Cats are at risk of becoming infected with worms from birth. Parasite eggs can enter the body through the milk of an infected mother. But there are other sources of infection that are best known about before symptoms appear. There are many options for what you can give your cat. Preventive prevention is the best way to prevent worms.

1. Milk from an infected mother. Some larvae reach the size of a wheat grain, and some are completely invisible and are able to penetrate the mammary glands and the animal’s body through the skin.
2. Feeding on rats and mice. Rodents have long been considered carriers of various infections, including worms.
3. Presence of fleas. When an animal picks fleas in its own fur, it is susceptible to infestation by larvae through the ingestion of parasites.
4. Eating meat from birds, animals and fish. Adult worms can be seen in rotten meat with the naked eye. When they enter the body, they do not die, but adapt and grow successfully, destroying the animal from the inside.
5. Drinking river water. It contains not only infections, bacteria, but also eggs of parasites left over from decomposed fish, cancerous bodies and garbage.
6. Contacts with infected animals. Sometimes animals lick each other's genitals, and the fur around the anus may contain traces of feces or larvae. Animals with cestodes are capable of infecting healthy cats through the air.
7. Shared meals. Often, pets are fed from the same dish, without realizing that toxocara, roundworms and other types of worms can pass into a healthy body through food and water.
8. Earth, sand. Outdoor animals are often fed from the ground. Throw leftover food onto the sidewalk, lawn or other areas of the ground. You can often find cats and dogs eating food abandoned by people on the beach. Earthen and sand grains may contain helminth eggs, which will successfully enter the cat’s healthy body.

Anthelmintic drops on the withers

One of the most convenient forms of application is drops that are applied to the withers. To do this, the animal’s fur is carefully parted, the area of ​​skin is dried, and a strictly dosed amount of the drug is applied. As a rule, the products are produced in a disposable pipette, which makes the process of use easier.

The most well-known products in this group:

• Advocate.
• Dironet.
• Inspector.

After applying the drops, do not bathe the animal for 4 days, and do not stroke or pick up the pet. The dosage is selected by the doctor, taking into account individual characteristics.

A chemical drug from this group is recognized as the best deworming remedy for cats (strictly dosed, easy to use).

In what cases should you choose drops?

A modern veterinary clinic offers a wide range of products for treating animals against helminths. These are all kinds of dosage forms in the form of tablets, suspensions and pastes. Antiparasitic injections are also known, which are administered to the animal subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

However, not every owner dares to give an injection to their pet at home. With tablets and suspensions the situation is even more complicated. Attempts to feed a stubborn furry dog ​​with a tasteless medicinal drug often end with scratched hands of the owner and the pet crawling under the sofa.

Very convenient and easy-to-use anti-worm drops for cats come to the aid of animal lovers.

Special pipettes contain strictly dosed medicinal liquid. When used correctly, capliot wormers will safely and quickly cure your beloved cat of harmful parasites.

Unlike tablets, deworming drops on the withers do not affect the animal’s liver. Their effect on the cat’s body is milder. There is another important advantage of drops. They almost always have a complex effect.

The drugs have a detrimental effect not only on worms living inside the animal’s body, but also on ectoparasites (which are located on the surface of the body) - fleas and ticks.

There is an opinion that if a cat does not walk outside, but is kept only in the house, it cannot become infected with worms.

Unfortunately, this is a deep misconception. Helminth larvae and mature individuals are literally everywhere. Walking down the street, the owner himself brings uninvited guests on the soles of his shoes or clothes. And a completely indoor cat “picks them up.”

Another commonplace way of infection is through raw meat and fish products or through tap water if consumed by a beloved pet.

Newborn kittens can become ill while still in the womb if the cat is infected with worms. Therefore, for prevention purposes, anthelmintic drugs should be used once every 3 months. The most convenient way to do this is with the help of anti-worm drops on the withers for animals.

Suspensions for oral administration

The second most popular dosage form is an oral suspension of an anthelmintic drug. The suspension is available in a sealed bottle; each milliliter of the drug contains a strictly dosed amount of the active substance.

The most famous representatives of this group:

• Dironet.
• Piradek.
• Celandine (not to be confused with a natural concentrated solution of celandine).

Immediately before use, the product should be mixed so that the active substance is evenly distributed in the bottle.

• If the cat is small in age or weight, the dose is minimal, which presents difficulties for the owner.
• In this case, it is necessary to dilute the suspension (single portion) in a small amount of water.
• The drug must be administered to the root of the tongue so that the animal accurately swallows the medicine.

Prices for dewormers for cats range from 150 to 300 rubles (depending on the pharmacy and manufacturer).

Effective means

Modern veterinary medicine offers a large selection of anthelmintic drugs for cats in the form of deworming drops on the withers. Different packaging and dosage of medicinal solutions makes it possible to treat pets of all breeds with greater or lesser body weight.

For very young kittens, special anti-worm drops are produced on the withers with a lower concentration of active components in the active substance.

Deworming of the animal and selection of medicine should be done individually and strictly on the recommendation of a veterinarian.

Profender

One of the effective remedies for worms in cats is the combined drug Profender, which is produced in Germany. It contains the active substances praziquantel (85.75 mg) and emodepside (21.43 mg). They act on varieties of tape and round parasites, as well as their larvae in different stages of development.

The medicinal substance Profendera is enclosed in a ready-made pipette. Depending on the weight of the animal, different packaging of the anthelmintic drug should be used:

• 0.35 ml – for cats from 0.5 to 2.5 kg;
• 0.70 ml – for animals from 2.5 to 5 kg;
• 1.20 ml – for pets from 5 to 8 kg.

If the cat has a body weight of over 8 kg, it is necessary to use a combination of pipettes with different volumes of content (0.14 ml of medicinal substance per 1 kg of weight).

The deworming drug Profender has the following advantages:

• absorbed through the skin into the blood within 2 hours;
• can be used for pregnant and lactating cats;
• allowed for the treatment of kittens from 8 months (with an animal weight of 500 grams and above).

Profender is used exclusively externally - applied directly to the skin of the animal’s withers in places inaccessible to licking.

Treatment for helminths with this remedy is carried out once. Profender can also be used for preventive purposes.

Bars spot-on

This Russian drug for worms has a wide spectrum of action. Leopard spot-on is used to get rid of not only endoparasites (that is, those living inside the animal). It actively fights ticks, fleas and lice on the surface of the body.

The drug contains 20 mg of vermectin and 80 mg of praziquantel per 1 ml of liquid. The volume of pipettes is different:

• 0.20 ml;
• 0.30 ml;
• 0.40 ml;
• 0.50 ml;
• 1 ml;
• 2 ml.

Adult pets weighing from 2 to 5 kg are prescribed a single use of drops in a dose of 1 ml, over 5 kg - 2 ml. It is possible to treat kittens older than 2 months. For babies weighing more than 1 kg, pipettes with a volume of 0.20 ml are used. After applying deworming drops, you should not bathe the animal for 4 days.

Please note that this drug is not suitable for pregnant and lactating animals. It is also not recommended for use on weakened cats.

You should be careful when purchasing, since Bars spot-on drops are often counterfeited. Counterfeit products can cause negative reactions in your pet.

Prazicide complex

Prazicide-complex for external use is produced in Russia. It is widely used for complex treatment of pets against worms, lice, ticks and lice.

The clear yellow liquid contains ivermectin and levamisole, which successfully kill worms and their larvae.

Prazicide-complex is produced in special pipettes with different dosages:

• 0.30 ml;
• 0.85 ml;
• 1 ml;
• 1.70 ml;
• 2.50 ml;
• 3.50 ml.

For adult cats weighing up to 5 kg, a single application of 0.85 ml of medication to the withers is prescribed. When the pet is heavier, the dose is 1.70 ml. Kittens after two months of age are allowed a safe dose of 0.3 ml with a weight of up to 1 kg and 0.6 ml for pets with a larger weight.

This anti-worm drug also increases the animal’s body’s defenses and strengthens the immune system.

But please note: if the cat is expecting a litter or is nursing, the drops should be used with great caution.

Inspector

The complex product Inspector is produced in Russia according to a German recipe.

Drops on the withers relieve pets of internal and external parasites.

Drops contain high-quality active substances. Fipronil spreads evenly throughout the animal's body, accumulates in the epidermis, paralyzes and kills arthropod insects. Moxidectin penetrates the blood and tissues, having a detrimental effect on worms.

Within a month, the antiparasitic agent is eliminated on its own without causing any harmful effects on the cat’s body.

Inspector drops differ from many identical products in that they are approved for the treatment of nursing and pregnant cats.

Kittens from 3 weeks of age can also be rid of dangerous parasites using this drug. But babies treated with drops should be temporarily separated from their mother cat. Otherwise, she will begin to lick the kittens and may get poisoned.

Medicine pipettes are available in volumes of 0.4 ml for animals weighing 1-4 kg and 0.8 ml for pets weighing 4-8 kg.

If the cat is heavier than 8 kg, it is recommended to use a dose of 0.1 ml per 1 kg of weight.

When a pet weighs less than a kilogram, the amount of solution is calculated according to the principle - 1 drop of liquid (0.05 ml) per 500 grams of body weight. Do not use the drug more often than once every 30 days.

Stronghold

Stronghold anthelmintic drops for cats on the withers are produced in America. Their active substance is selamectin.

These drops on the withers for cats are effective against both worms and external parasites.

Medicine pipettes for cats contain a 6% solution. However, they differ in the color of the caps and the volume of contents. The dosage schedule is listed in the table:

For therapeutic and preventive purposes, Stronghold is used once a month. The drug can be used for pregnant and lactating cats. It is not recommended to give it to kittens under 2 months old.

Advocate

The anthelmintic Advocate in the form of drops on the withers of cats is a joint German-Russian drug.

Imidacloprid and moxidectin are two active ingredients that fight various types of mange, fleas, mites and internal parasites in cats.

The medicine is available in pipettes of 0.4 and 0.8 ml. They are designed respectively for small (up to 4 kg) and large (4-8 kg) cats. If the pet weighs more, use several dosed pipettes, be sure to consult with your veterinarian.

Kittens can only be treated with this drug once they reach 8 weeks of age. Lactating and pregnant animals are not recommended to use the product.

Dironet spot-on

For the prevention and treatment of helminthiases, the Russian drug Dironet is widely used. It contains ivermectin and praziquantel.

The medicine comes in a pipette tube of 1 ml (for adult cats) and 0.5 ml (for kittens). This drug is not used to treat babies under 10 weeks of age or pregnant cats.

The medicine not only destroys parasites already existing in the body and on the skin, but also prevents new infections by external pests for a certain period of time.

Helminthal to

Combined medicine for worms in the form of plastic capsules with a domestically produced pipette.

An oily liquid for external use contains praziquantel and moxidectin, which have a detrimental effect on helminths inside the body and on external pathogens of scabies and allergies.

Pipettes with a medicinal composition come in two volumes: 0.4 ml and 1 ml. The dosage is prescribed by the veterinarian depending on the pet’s body weight. It is strictly forbidden to treat kittens under 2 months of age and pregnant or lactating cats with the drug.

The drops begin to act actively 2 hours after application. The animal should not be bathed for 3-4 days. The substance is eliminated from the body within 3 weeks.

Expert opinion

Chepa Natalya Semenovna

Veterinarian

Ask an expert

Another effective remedy for the prevention and treatment of helminthiases in the form of drops is Broadline Spot-On. This is a complex drug that protects the cat not only from round and flat worms, but also from fleas and ticks. Broadline Spot-On is available in the form of a syringe applicator, so it is very convenient to apply it to the animal’s skin. For prophylactic purposes, the drug is used once a month. Allowed for kittens from 7 weeks of age. An excellent choice for treating your cat against internal and external parasites at the same time.

Tablets for oral administration

This form of the drug appeared first, and today it is also widely used in everyday life. The photo of the deworming product for cats shows that the tablets have standard large sizes.

Therefore, if necessary, the tablet is ground into powder, which greatly facilitates the administration of the anthelmintic drug.

The drug names are similar to other forms of the drugs, and the tablet contains Praziquantel and Albendazole.

Contraindications and side effects

Anti-worm drops for cats have certain contraindications for use:

• the kitten is under 2 months old;
• period of pregnancy or lactation - for most drugs;
• infections and viruses in cats;
• exhaustion, weakened immunity after illness;
• individual intolerance to the components of the drug.

In rare cases, unwanted side reactions are possible, which are expressed by the following symptoms:

• digestive upset, nausea and vomiting;
• lacrimation and salivation;
• allergic skin rash;
• cramps and muscle spasms.

Before using any deworming drops on the withers for cats, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian. To be sure of the quality and authenticity of the product, it is better to purchase medications in specialized stores or veterinary clinics.

Home remedies for worms

Many cat owners deliberately refuse to take industrial medications. The reason may be allergic reactions to the active components, uncertainty about the quality of the effect, or mistrust of the composition of the drug.

How to remove worms from cats using home remedies:

1. Roundworms and tapeworms are very sensitive to extractive substances. Therefore, chopped garlic is added to cats’ food as a preventative measure.
2. As another preventative measure, shampoos and flea treatments are used, which transmit worm eggs on the paws.
3. Quite often in practice, infusions and decoctions of antiseptic herbs are used: tansy, chamomile, fennel.

However, folk remedies for treating worms in cats are not the standard of anthelmintic therapy. When the first signs of a parasitic infection appear, you should take your pet to a veterinarian.

Where do cats get worms?

Even if we remove the possibility that your cat walks on the street, where it comes into contact with other animals, picks up food from the ground and drinks water from puddles, that is, comes into contact with various sources of parasite infection, then you cannot be completely sure that your exemplary The domestic cat is not a carrier of worms.

There are few ways to infect a domestic cat with parasites:

• Raw meat may have parasite cysts (larvae). And, despite the fact that we give the cat meat as required by the rules, that is, by first freezing the meat, there is no absolute guarantee that all the larvae have died.
• We bring parasite larvae from the street on our shoes along with dust and dirt. And our pets walk around the house without slippers and maintain hygiene with the help of their tongue. By licking the paw pads, your pet can easily get a portion of worm cysts.
• It is necessary to say separately about such a source of infestation of cats with parasites as raw fish. In addition to worms, fish contains a lot of phosphorus, which, during frequent feeding of fish, sometimes leads to disruption of metabolic processes in the cat. Therefore, it is advisable to completely exclude raw fish, especially river fish, from the cat’s daily menu.
• Fleas are carriers of some types of parasites. Therefore, if you find that an animal has fleas, and in the summer this can happen even when the cat is in the apartment, then at the same time as treating against fleas, you need to give the animal anthelmintics.
• Kittens very often inherit worms from their mother. In addition, kittens, like all children, constantly put everything in their mouths. And since all the objects available to them at this age are on the floor, they easily become a source of worm infestation for the kitten.

What harm do worms cause to a cat?

• The waste products of parasites are quite toxic and poison the body of their carrier every day. Worms secrete special elements - antienzymes, thus they protect themselves from digestion. As a result, metabolic processes are disrupted and the liver suffers.
• Like all parasites, worms live at the expense of their host and take away from the animal some of the nutrients found in the food that you so carefully prepare for your pet.
• Worms create a mechanical effect on the organs where they are located, since they are retained in the body by a system of spines and suction cups.
• Many varieties feed not only on the cat's food, but also on the cells and tissues of the body, and white blood cells are among them. Which leads to a decrease in the immunity of the infected pet.

Photos of the best deworming remedies for cats

AVZ preparations in the form of drops on the withers for worms in cats

Dironet Spot-on drops on the withers for cats and kittens are a complex preparation. They are applied to the skin, after which they are absorbed and enter the systemic bloodstream, organs and tissues of the animal, resulting in an effective antiparasitic effect.

• Dironet Spot-on for cats.
  Designed to quickly and effectively rid adults of all types of helminths and external parasites. The drug contains components such as praziquantel and ivermectin, as well as excipients.

• "Dironet Spot-on" for kittens.
  Drops are prescribed to kittens over 2 months of age for the treatment and prevention of intestinal nematodes, cestodiases, entomoses, otodectosis, sarcoptic mange, notoedrosis and demodicosis. The main active ingredients are praziquantel, ivermectin, and also contain excipients.

How to get rid of worms without risk to your pet

To protect yourself and your pet, you need to remember the following:

1. Only clinically healthy animals are anthelmintic (if there is a digestive disorder - vomiting, loose stools, refusal to feed, then giving an anthelmintic is prohibited until an appointment or consultation with a veterinarian);
2. Prevention of worms in dogs and cats is carried out once every 3 months;
3. Preventive treatment of puppies and kittens is carried out for the first time at 3 weeks or 1 month, then before the first vaccination it is mandatory (vaccination is carried out from 2 months, respectively, the anthelmintic should be given 10 days before it), if there are no worms after deworming, it is carried out vaccination, if any, requires repeated treatment at intervals and only then, the first vaccine in life. Next, before revaccination at 3 months (again, the drug is given 10 days before), if the first vaccine was given earlier than prescribed, and at the time of revaccination the puppy/kitten is not yet 3 months old, then we revaccinate without rabies and without deworming, and then, when 3 months arrive, we vaccinate purely against rabies (give an anthelmintic 10 days before). Subsequently, anthelmintic is administered once every 3 months and 10 days before the annual vaccination;
4. All animals in the house are dewormed at the same time;
5. It is not recommended to anthelmintize pregnant and lactating females unless absolutely necessary, so giving an anthelmintic should be done 10-14 days before mating;
6. After your pet comes into contact with animals infected or potentially infected with helminthic infestation, preventive deworming is required;
7. If you notice eggs in the stool that look like grains of rice, small worms or something similar, carry out preventive deworming;
8. The administration of drugs is carried out strictly by weight: if you give a smaller amount of the drug, it will not have a full effect, and an overdose can harm the animal’s body;
9. Try to use only high-quality imported drugs. Since imported products undergo more degrees of control and testing, they produce fewer side effects, are tolerated more gently by the body, but at the same time retain their high effectiveness.

It is important to remember that if the fact of helminthic infestation is established, and this can be done by passing a stool test (scatology) or visually noticing worm eggs in the feces, then deworming should be carried out 2 times with an interval of 10-14 days. This is due to the fact that after the first administration of the drug, adults die and emerge; repeated administration of the drug is required to remove the larvae and eggs of the parasite. Most often, giving the drug twice is sufficient, but there may be cases that require taking the drug more times.

Since worms in the process of life activity emit a certain amount of toxins, and this amount, in most cases, does not visually change the condition of the animal in any way, then with severe helminthiasis after giving an anthelmintic drug, the parasites die simultaneously and release a huge amount of these toxins, which can cause serious intoxication, causing vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, apathy, and can even lead to the death of the animal. Therefore, after giving an anthelmintic, it is necessary to monitor the well-being of your pet: if the condition worsens, immediately consult a veterinarian.

You also need to take into account the fact that helminthiasis belongs to anthropozoonoses - a group of infectious and invasive diseases common to animals and humans.

For this reason, there is a danger of infection of the animal owner and all family members. To avoid the unpleasant consequences of helminthic infestation, it is necessary to protect your body prophylactically.