Abstract
BackgroundInfestation of cats with the Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus continues to be a threat because of the paralysis that can result from attachment of just a single tick. The outcome can be fatal, particularly if tick removal and treatment is not initiated soon after the onset of paralysis. However, there are no published studies to guide veterinarians and owners on preventive measures. A study was therefore initiated to determine the efficacy of a systemically-acting, spot-on formulation of fluralaner (Bravecto®) for cats against existing I. holocyclus infestations, and to investigate the duration of protection following a single administration.MethodsHealthy domestic cats, short or long-hair, immunized against holocyclotoxin, were randomly allocated to two groups of 10 cats per group, to receive either a single topically applied fluralaner treatment or no treatment. Fluralaner treatments were administered on Day 0 at a dose rate of 40 mg/kg. All cats were infested with 10 adult unfed female I. holocyclus on Day -1 and on Days 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84. Ticks were assessed at 24 and 48 h after fluralaner treatment and 24, 48 and 72 hours after each subsequent re-infestation. Ticks were counted but not removed at the 24- and 48-h post-challenge assessments and were removed following the 72-h counts.ResultsThe efficacy of fluralaner spot-on against an existing I. holocyclus infestation was 100% at 48 h post treatment. Following re-infestations, efficacy remained at 100% at the 72-h assessments for all challenges from Day 14 to Day 84. Differences between mean live tick counts on treated versus control cats were significant at all time points from the first post-treatment assessment (t-test: t(18) = 23.162; P < 0.0001) through the final challenge on Day 84 (t-test: t(18) = 21.153; P < 0.0001). No treatment-related adverse events were observed and there were no abnormal observations at the product application sites.ConclusionsA single treatment of fluralaner spot-on was well tolerated and provided 100% efficacy against I. holocyclus ticks for at least 84 days. Fluralaner spot-on can be a valuable tool to prevent tick infestation in cats, and to control the risk of I. holocyclus-induced paralysis.
Highlights
Infestation of cats with the Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus continues to be a threat because of the paralysis that can result from attachment of just a single tick
Infestations with the tick Ixodes holocyclus continue to be a major concern as a cause of paralysis and death in companion animals along the eastern coast of Australia, with thousands of cases reported in dogs and cats each year [1,2,3]
The efficacy of the fluralaner spot-on treatment was 100% at 48 h post-treatment and remained at 100% at 48 and 72 h after all subsequent experimental infestations of I. holocyclus (Fig. 1). This is within the critical 72-h post-attachment period, before the risk of paralysis may begin to develop from the injection of neurotoxins that are produced in the tick salivary glands after three days of attachment [10, 11]
Summary
Infestation of cats with the Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus continues to be a threat because of the paralysis that can result from attachment of just a single tick. During the study period (October 2010 December 2012), a total of 5560 cases [4235 (76%) canine; 1325 (24%) feline] were reported from 341 postcodes, mostly along the eastern seaboard of Australia and from the states of New South Wales and Queensland. These findings, while including only those cats that were presented for treatment, draw focus to the need for an effective tick control measure that can substantially reduce the risk of infestation, and of the paralysis that may result
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