Abstract
BackgroundFlea bite is considered to be the main cause of allergic dermatitis in cats. There is a need for treatments able to control clinical signs of allergic dermatitis associated with flea bite in cats.This was an open pre-treatment versus post-treatment clinical field study. All cats included in the study presented pruritus, skin lesions or other evidence compatible with flea infestation. Skin lesions were assessed (using SCORFAD) at days 0, 28, 56 and 84 whereas pruritus severity was assessed (using PVAS) at days 0, 15, 28, 56 and 84. On day 0, The fluralaner (280 mg/ml) product (Bravecto® spot-on for cats) was supplied in pipettes containing 0.4, 0.89 and 1.79 ml for cats of 1.2–2.8 kg, > 2.8–6.25 kg and > 6.25–12.5 kg body weight, respectively. The other animals living in the same household also received fluralaner. Based on cytological examination at day 0, oral amoxicillin and clavulanic acid was prescribed for 21 days if indicated. For cats presenting intense pruritus and discomfort at day 0, oral prednisolone at 0.5 mg/kg was prescribed for 3 days.ResultsDuring the study all cats, except for one (cat number 10), improved significantly. Post-treatment median SCORFAD scores at all evaluations were significantly different from the pre-treatment score on day 0 (P values < 0.002 for all three post treatment examination days) with a score reduction of 49% on day 28, 79% on day 56 and 87% on day 84. The PVAS score decreased significantly over the study period for all cats but one (cat number 10). Post-treatment median PVAS scores at all evaluations were significantly different from the pre-treatment PVAS score on day 0 (P value < 0.002 for all four post-treatment days) with a reduction of 46% on day 15, 67% on day 28, 82% on day 56 and 92% on day 84. No adverse reaction or other health issue was reported during the study.ConclusionsA single topical treatment with fluralaner results in a significant reduction of flea bite allergic dermatitis clinical signs in cats over the subsequent 12 weeks without any additional environmental treatment.
Highlights
IntroductionThere is a need for treatments able to control clinical signs of allergic dermatitis associated with flea bite in cats
Flea bite is considered to be the main cause of allergic dermatitis in cats and is a consequence of exposure to the ectoparasitic species Ctenocephalides felis felis
The clinical score (SCORFAD) and pruritus visual analogue scale” (PVAS) reduction observed 12 weeks after treatment was similar to the reduction observed in a recent field study on the efficacy of fluralaner topical solution to treat flea infestation in cats [5]
Summary
There is a need for treatments able to control clinical signs of allergic dermatitis associated with flea bite in cats. The isoxazolines are a new class of ectoparasiticides comprising four commercially available molecules: Briand et al BMC Veterinary Research (2019) 15:337 afoxolaner, fluralaner, lotilaner and sarolaner, one of these (afoxolaner) is not approved for use in cats These compounds are active against γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA) and glutamate gated chloride channels with significant selectivity for the insect neuron receptor over mammalian ones [2]. A fluralaner spot-on (Bravecto Spot-On, MSD Santé Animale, Beaucouzé, France) formulation was recently approved for treating dogs and cats This treatment provides at least 12 weeks of flea and tick control after a single dose with a rapid onset of action, achieving 100% efficacy against fleas within 12 h of initial administration to cats [3]. Several controlled field studies have shown the safety and efficacy of topical fluralaner for feline flea infestation control with more than 99% flea count reduction over the 12-week recommended treatment interval [4, 5]
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