Abstract
The efficacy of a novel topical combination of fipronil 9.8% (w/v) and (S)-methoprene 8.8% (w/v) (Fiprofort® Plus) was tested against ticks and fleas in naturally infested dogs. A total of fifty dogs were allocated in the study with ticks infestation (n = 35) and fleas infestation (n = 15). On day 0, thirty-five tick and fifteen flea infested dogs received the test formulation, a combination of fipronil 9.8% (w/v) and (S)-methoprene 8.8% (w/v) spot-on solution. Ticks and flea counts were taken on days 0 (pretreatment) and 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 after treatment. Blood samples were collected for evaluation of haematological parameters on days 0 (pretreatment) and 7, 21, and 35 after treatment. All the adult ticks and fleas collected were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Ctenocephalides felis, respectively. The efficacy of spot-on formulation against ticks was 34.00% (day 3), 53.14% (day 7), 62.71% (day 14), 65.48% (day 21), 59.80% (day 28), and 58.82% (day 35), whereas against fleas it was 38.00% (day 3), 64.34% (day 7), 89.67% (day 14), 95.40% (day 21), 100.00% (day 28), and 100.00% (day 35). Haematological parameters for ticks and fleas infested dogs were statistically nonsignificant as compared to control. The combination of fipronil and (S)-methoprene eliminated the existing ticks and fleas infestation and prevented the dogs from flea and tick infestation for four weeks.
Highlights
Ticks and fleas infestations represent an important problem for dogs and their owners practically worldwide
The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is a three-host tick able to complete each stage on dogs, even indoors [1, 2], and acts as most important vector for several pathogens which cause severe canine diseases [3,4,5,6]
The dog flea, Ctenocephalides felis, is the most prevalent insect, and its population is mostly constituted by immature stages that infest dogs [7,8,9]
Summary
Ticks and fleas infestations represent an important problem for dogs and their owners practically worldwide. The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is a three-host tick able to complete each stage on dogs, even indoors [1, 2], and acts as most important vector for several pathogens which cause severe canine diseases [3,4,5,6]. The dog flea, Ctenocephalides felis, is the most prevalent insect, and its population is mostly constituted by immature stages that infest dogs [7,8,9]. Adequate control of ticks and fleas infestation helps in relieving the immediate distress caused to their hosts, such as itching, skin lesions, and blood loss, and may prevent the direct effects such as tick-induced paralysis and flea allergy dermatitis. A reduction in parasite numbers may have an effect on the prevalence as well as transmission of vectorborne diseases [13]
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