A flea and tick collar containing 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin prevents flea transmission of Bartonella henselae in cats

Abstract

BackgroundBartonella henselae is transmitted amongst cats by Ctenocephalides felis and is associated with multiple clinical syndromes in cats and people. In a previous study, monthly spot-on administration of 10% imidacloprid/1% moxidectin was shown to block transmission of B. henselae amongst cats experimentally exposed to infected C. felis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether application of a flea and tick collar containing 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin would lessen C. felis transmission of B. henselae amongst cats for 8 months.MethodsSpecific pathogen free cats (n = 19) were housed in three adjoining enclosures that were separated by mesh to allow C. felis to pass among groups but prevent cats in different enclosures from contacting one another. One group of 4 cats was inoculated intravenously with B. henselae and after infection was confirmed in all cats based on positive PCR assay results, the cats were housed in the middle enclosure. The B. henselae infected cat group was flanked by a group of 8 cats that had the collar placed and maintained for the duration of the study and a group of 7 cats that were not treated. Ctenocephalides felis (50 males and 50 females) raised in an insectary were placed on each of the 4 cats in the B. henselae infected group monthly for 7 applications and then every 2 weeks for 4 applications starting the day the collar was applied. Blood was collected from all cats weekly for Bartonella spp. PCR, serology and culture.ResultsWhile side-effects associated with the collars were not noted, persistent fever necessitating enrofloxacin therapy occurred in two of the untreated cats. While B. henselae infection was ultimately confirmed in 4 of 7 of the untreated cats, none of the cats with collars became infected (P = 0.026).ConclusionsIn this study design, use of a collar containing 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin was well tolerated and prevented C. felis transmission of B. henselae amongst cats for 8 months.

Prevalence of Bartonella species infections in cats in Southern Germany

“…The family Bartonellaceae includes the single genus Bartonella with over 22 species. Bartonella species replicate intracellularly in red blood cells or endothelial cells and are usually transmitted by arthropods (Boulouis and others 2005, Chomel and others 2006, Bradbury and Lappin 2010, Lappin and others 2013). …”

Comparative Efficacy of an Imidacloprid/Flumethrin Collar (Seresto®) and an Oral Afoxolaner Chewable (NexGard®) against Tick (Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma americanum) Infestations on Dogs: a Randomised Controlled Trial

“…Specifically, Seresto ® has been shown to Fourie et al 2013a;Reichard et al 2013;Stanneck et al 2012). Seresto ® also aided in the prevention of Bartonella helselae transmission by C. felis and Leishmania infantum transmission by sand flies (Brianti et al 2014;Lappin et al 2013;Otranto et al 2013). In this study, Seresto ® was highly efficacious (94 -100 %) at repelling and killing D. variabilis and A. americanum ticks as soon as 6 hours postinfestation starting 3 days after application.…”

Development of Acanthocheilonema reconditum (Spirurida, Onchocercidae) in the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera, Pulicidae)

“…Bartonella henselae, Rickettsia felis, Yersinia pestis) (Macaluso et al 2008;Hornok et al 2010;Reif et al 2011;Lappin et al 2013;Rebeil et al 2013), viruses (e.g. feline leukaemia virus) (Vobis et al 2003) and helminths (e.g.…”