Efficacy of afoxolaner in the flea control in experimentally infested cats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a single dose of oral afoxolaner in controlling fleas in cats. Fourteen cats were used. The cats were given identification numbers, housed individually, artificially infested with Ctenocephalides felis felis, and treated (or not) with afoxolaner. Were divided into a treatment group and a control group (n = 7/group), on the basis of the fleas count hours after an infestation applied on Day (one-by-one allocation after ordering by count). At the start of the experimental protocol (designated day 0), the treated group received afoxolaner in a single dose of 2.5 mg/kg and the control group animals received a placebo. All animals were infested with 100 C. felis felis fleas two days before day 0, as well as on days 5, 12, 19, 26, 33, 40, 47, 54, and 63, parasite loads being evaluated at 48 h after each infestation. The efficacy of afoxolaner was 100% on day 2 and remained above 98% until day 42, decreasing to 95.3% by day 63. The findings confirm that a single dose of oral afoxolaner was effective in controlling C. felis felis in cats, and there were no observed adverse events.

Afoxolaner as a Treatment for a Novel Sarcoptes scabiei Infestation in a Juvenile Potbelly Pig

“…Afoxolaner is an isoxazoline that blocks native and expressed arthropod GABA-gated chloride channels, including wild-type and channels possessing the resistance to dieldrin (A302S) mutation ( 20 ). In dogs and cats it has demonstrated considerable efficacy for ectoparasite control for fleas ( 2 , 21 ), ticks ( 21 ), and mites including Sarcoptes ( 5 ), Otodectes ( 3 ), and Demodex ( 22 , 23 ). With the selectivity for invertebrate channels the isoxazolines are thought have a wide margin of safety in mammals.…”

“…These drugs bind gamma-aminobutyric acid gated chloride receptors as well as l-glutamate chloride channels. This receptor binding then results in the death of the parasite ( 2 ). The isoxazolines selectively target arthropod receptors over mammalian receptors and as such have been used for both experimental and naturally occurring flea, tick, and mite infections in dogs and cats ( 2 – 5 ).…”

Benefits and Risks of Pesticide Usage in Pets

“…Fluralaner (an isoxazoline) is a systemically administered insecticidal and acaricidal formulation that elicits long-acting efficacy after oral administration to dogs [44]. Another isooxazoline, afoxolaner, has been reported to be efficacious in dogs and cats against fleas [45][46][47], ticks [46], and mites [47][48][49][50]. It is detected in plasma 20-30 minutes following administration through the oral route and it attains its uppermost level in 2-4 hours [51].…”

Recent Advancements in the Control of Cat Fleas

“…In addition, afoxolaner also was topically active against fleas and ticks. In a laboratory study with cats, a single oral dose of afoxolaner provided 100% kill of adult fleas within 48 h and 99.5 and 95% reductions for 42 and 63 days, respectively [ 47 ]. In a laboratory study, the number of fleas on dogs orally dosed with afoxolaner was reduced by 100% for at least 22 days [ 48 ].…”