Efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas, ticks, mites and lice on dogs

Abstract

BackgroundThe studies reported here were conducted to ascertain the efficacy of imidacloprid/flumethrin incorporated in a slow-release matrix collar, against infestations of dogs by fleas, ticks, mites and lice. Efficacy was evaluated against the flea Ctenocephalides felis felis, the ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor reticulatus and Dermacentor variabilis, the mite Sarcoptes scabiei and the biting louse Trichodectes canis.MethodsGroups of collar-treated dogs (n = 7–10) were infested with fleas and/or ticks at monthly intervals at least, over a period of up to 8 months. Efficacy against fleas was evaluated 24 to 48 h after treatment and 24 h after each re-infestation. Efficacy against ticks was evaluated at 48 h (acaricidal), 6 h (repellent) and 48 h (sustained) after infestation. The effect of regular shampooing or immersion in water on the efficacy of the collars was also tested. Efficacy against flea larvae was assessed by incubating blanket samples after dog contact with viable flea eggs. Effectiveness against lice and mites was evaluated after treatment of naturally infested animals. With the exception of the mites, efficacy was calculated by comparison with untreated negative control groups.ResultsEfficacy against fleas (24 h) generally exceeded 95%, and against flea larvae it exceeded 99% for 8 months. Sustained acaricidal (48 h) efficacy, covering a period of 8 months was 100% against I. ricinus, starting 2 days after treatment (in vivo), and 100% against I. scapularis (in vitro), above 97% against R. sanguineus, generally above 97% against D. reticulatus and above 90% for D. variabilis.Repellent (6 h) efficacy 2 days after treatment and continuing for 8 months was consistently 100% against I. ricinus, and above 90% against R. sanguineus.Regular shampooing affected efficacy against fleas and ticks to a lesser extent than regular immersion in water.The collars eliminated Trichodectes canis within 2 days and Sarcoptes scabiei within 3 months.ConclusionThe rapid insecticidal and acaricidal properties of the medicated collars against newly-acquired infestations of fleas and ticks and their sustained high levels of preventive efficacy have been clearly shown. Consequently they have the potential to prevent the transmission of vector-borne diseases and other conditions directly associated with infestation throughout an entire season of parasite abundance.

Prophylactic Treatment of Flea-Infested Dogs with an Imidacloprid / Flumethrin Collar (Seresto®, Bayer) to Preempt Infection with Dipylidium caninum

“…These findings correspond well to that recorded against Tunga penetrans following treatment with an imidacloprid / permethrin combination (Klimpel et al 2005). The rapid and sustained efficacy of a slow-release matrix collar formulation of 10 % (m/m) imidacloprid and 4.5 % (m/m) flumethrin (Seresto ® ) against laboratory infections of dogs with the cat flea C. felis has recently been demonstrated by Stanneck et al (2012). In addition, the efficacy of these collars in preventing infection with the cestode D. caninum in cats repeatedly infested with fleas infected with the metacestodes of the tapeworm has also been reported .…”

Long-Term Efficacy of an Imidacloprid 10 % / Flumethrin 4.5 % Polymer Matrix Collar (Seresto®, Bayer) against the Australian Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus) in Dogs

“…An evaluation of efficacy against I. holocyclus on IVP-treated dogs following shampooing or swimming was beyond the scope of this current study, but has been previously assessed for other tick species. Stanneck et al (2012b) found that the efficacy of the IVP in dogs that were shampooed or immersed in water every 28 days remained above 97 % and 94 %, respectively, against R. sanguineus and above 90 % and 89 %, respectively, against D. variabilis, over a period of 8 months. These results suggest that the active acaricidal compound remains in or on the hair and skin, or are replenished from the collar and thus support an assumption that regular shampooing or swimming should not markedly reduce the IVP's acaricidal efficacy against I. holocyclus.…”

“…This design gives us a clearer understanding of the acaricidal efficacy of the test product even under maximally unfavourable conditions (a tick attaching immediately to the spot of its first animal contact), whilst it disregards the repellent properties of pyrethroids that have been demonstrated for ticks in both in vitro (e.g. moving object bioassay) (Dautel and Cranna 2006) and in vivo studies (Horak et al 2012, Stanneck et al 2012b. As the adult, female I. holocyclus feed, they inject toxins into their host that can cause fatal paralysis in dogs.…”

“…The IVP is registered for use on dogs and cats in many countries including in the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and New Zealand. It has been shown to be efficacious for 8 months against fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis) and ticks (Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor reticulatus, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes scapularis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Rhipicephalus turanicus) on dogs and cats and additionally eliminates lice (Trichodectes canis) and mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) on dogs (Stanneck et al 2012b;Stanneck et al 2012c). Both of the active ingredients in the IVP are found in ectoparasiticides currently registered for use on dogs in Australia.…”

Data collection for risk assessments on animal health (Acronym: DACRAH) : Final Report

“…External usecollar/ear tag Collars treated with imidacloprid/flumethrin offered accaricidal efficacy and repellent efficacy of 1 28 days after application (Stanneck et al, 2012a) Collars treated with imidacloprid/flumethrin offered accaricidal efficacy of 1 238 days after application Flumethrin External usecollar/ear tag Collars treated with imidacloprid/flumethrin offered accaricidal efficacy and repellent…”