Abstract
BackgroundPreclinical studies have shown that the novel isoxazoline, lotilaner (Credelio™, Elanco) administered orally to dogs, produces rapid flea and tick knockdown and sustained speed of kill for at least a month post-treatment with a wide safety margin. A field study was undertaken to validate pre-clinical results.MethodsDogs were enrolled at 10 veterinary clinics across the United States. Qualifying households containing up to three dogs and one primary dog with at least 10 fleas were randomized 2:1 to receive lotilaner (Credelio™, Elanco) at the recommended minimum dose of 20 mg/kg, or afoxolaner (Nexgard®, Merial), administered per label, to give a minimum dose of 2.5 mg/kg. Treatments were dispensed on Days 0, 30 and 60 for administration by owners; all household dogs received the same treatment as the primary dog. Post-enrollment flea and tick counts were made on primary dogs on Days 30, 60 and 90, and all dogs were assessed for tablet palatability and safety.ResultsFor efficacy assessments, data were used from 111 lotilaner-treated dogs and 50 afoxolaner-treated dogs; for safety, 197 and 86 dogs, respectively. Percent reductions from baseline in geometric mean flea counts for the lotilaner group were 99.3, 99.9 and 100% on Days 30, 60 and 90, respectively, and for afoxolaner 98.3, 99.8 and 99.8% (P < 0.001, both groups, all days). On Day 90, 100% of lotilaner-treated dogs and 93% of afoxolaner-treated dogs were flea-free. Too few ticks were present to allow assessment. There were no differences in palatability between products (P = 0.2132), with, respectively, 94% and 96% of lotilaner and afoxolaner treatments accepted when offered by hand, in an empty food bowl or with food. Both treatments were well tolerated, alleviating clinical signs of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) in dogs affected at enrollment.ConclusionA single owner-administered lotilaner treatment was greater than 99% effective in reducing mean flea counts within 30 days. Three consecutive monthly lotilaner treatments resulted in a 100% reduction in flea infestations, and a substantial reduction in signs of FAD. Lotilaner flavored tablets were readily accepted under field conditions. The absence of treatment-related adverse events confirms the safety of lotilaner in dogs.
Highlights
Preclinical studies have shown that the novel isoxazoline, lotilaner (CredelioTM, Elanco) administered orally to dogs, produces rapid flea and tick knockdown and sustained speed of kill for at least a month posttreatment with a wide safety margin
From July to December, 2014, 122 primary dogs were enrolled in the lotilaner group (214 in total including supplementary household dogs) and 58 primary dogs in the afoxolaner group (98 dogs in total) at 10 small animal veterinary clinics throughout the United States
Another report of 65 primary dogs enrolled in a spinosad-treated group and 63 in a topically-applied fipronil/(S)-methoprene group described Day 90 efficacy of 95.1% for spinosad and 88.4% for fipronil/(S)-methoprene, with 94.8 and 38.2% of dogs free of fleas, respectively [19]. Both studies demonstrated superiority of the orally administered product over the topically applied comparator. These findings indicate that the performance of lotilaner under field conditions at least matches those reported for other monthly orally administered flea control products
Summary
Preclinical studies have shown that the novel isoxazoline, lotilaner (CredelioTM, Elanco) administered orally to dogs, produces rapid flea and tick knockdown and sustained speed of kill for at least a month posttreatment with a wide safety margin. The female flea is a prolific egg layer, and under laboratory conditions has been shown to begin egg laying within 24 to 36 h of finding a host, and to lay as many as 50 eggs per day, with daily egg production continuing over a life-time of more than 100 days [5]. Flea eggs falling from a host animal provide potential for an enormous increase in immature life-cycle stages in the environment. In the absence of effective treatments these stages continue to develop to present an increasing flea challenge. It is important that infested animals be treated with products that eliminate existing flea burdens and provide protection against post-treatment challenges from a contaminated environment
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