Efficacy of fipronil combined with permethrin commercial spot on (Effitix) preventing Culex pipiens from feeding on dogs.

Michel Franc,Stephane Bonneau,Emmanuel Lienard,Philippe Jacquiet,Emilie Bouhsira

doi:10.1007/s00436-015-4397-z

Michel Franc, Stephane Bonneau + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4397-z

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Abstract

A controlled clinical trial was carried out to assess the adulticidal and anti-feeding effectiveness of a spot-on combining fipronil and permethrin (Effitix®, Virbac, Carros, France) in preventing Culex pipiens from feeding on dogs. Twelve dogs with equal sensitivity to mosquitoes were included in the study and divided into two groups of six dogs: an untreated control group and a group treated with Effitix®. All dogs were challenged with 80 females C. pipiens for 90 ± 5 min on days −7, 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 (day 0 being treatment day). The number of engorged, dead, and live mosquitoes was determined after each exposure to treated and untreated dogs. Dead mosquitoes were also counted 24 h after exposure. The anti-feeding effect of the spot-on formulation was 100, 99.5, 97.7, 98.3, and 96.7 % on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28, respectively. The mortality effect was 66.6, 55.9, 38, 17.2, and 12.3 % on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28, respectively. At each challenge point, the mortality and anti-feeding effects on mosquitoes were significantly different between the control and treated group (p < 0.05). The results indicate that a combination of permethrin and fipronil could be used as an effective mosquito control strategy in dogs and is therefore recommended for use in a dirofilariasis prevention program.

Highlights

The two species of mosquitoes, Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus, are important vectors of Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens worldwide (Licitra et al 2010; McKay et al 2013)
D. immitis, the agent of heartworm disease, causes severe disorders and even death in dogs in many parts of the world (McCall et al 2008). The prevalence of both dirofilariasis is very high in the USA (Carleton and Tolbert 2004; Bowman et al 2007; McKay et al 2013), in Central America (Bolio-Gonzalez et al 2007; Caro-Gonzalez et al 2011), Asia (Oi et al 2014), Russia (Ermakova et al 2014), and in some European countries (Genchi et al 2011)
The aim of the study was to determine the antifeeding and mortality efficacies of a new formulation combining fipronil and permethrin (Effitix®, Virbac, Carros, France) against a European strain of C. pipiens in dogs

Summary

Introduction

The two species of mosquitoes, Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus, are important vectors of Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens worldwide (Licitra et al 2010; McKay et al 2013). D. immitis, the agent of heartworm disease, causes severe disorders and even death in dogs in many parts of the world (McCall et al 2008). The prevalence of both dirofilariasis is very high in the USA (Carleton and Tolbert 2004; Bowman et al 2007; McKay et al 2013), in Central America (Bolio-Gonzalez et al 2007; Caro-Gonzalez et al 2011), Asia (Oi et al 2014), Russia (Ermakova et al 2014), and in some European countries (Genchi et al 2011). Ocular, subcutaneous, and pulmonary forms have been reported (McCall et al 2008; Kalogeropoulos et al 2014; Otranto et al 2011a, 2011b)

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