Efficacy against nematode and cestode infections and safety of a novel topical fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel combination product in domestic cats under field conditions in Europe

Abstract

A novel topical combination product (BROADLINE(®), Merial) composed of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel was evaluated for safety and efficacy against nematode and cestode infections in domestic cats. The study comprised a multi-centre, positive control, blinded, field study, using a randomized block design based on order of presentation for allocation. In total 196 client-owned cats, confirmed as positive for naturally acquired infections of nematodes and/or cestodes by pre-treatment faecal examination, were studied in seven countries in Europe. Pre-treatment faecal examination revealed the presence of Toxocara, hookworm, Capillaria and/or spirurid nematode infections in 129, 73, 33 or 1 cat(s), respectively; infections with taeniid and Dipylidium cestodes were demonstrated in 39 and 17 cats, respectively. Cats were allocated randomly to one of two treatments in a ratio of 2, topical fipronil (8.3%, w/v), (S)-methoprene (10%, w/v), eprinomectin (0.4%, w/v) and praziquantel (8.3%, w/v) (BROADLINE(®), Merial; 130 cats); and 1, topical PROFENDER(®) Spot-On (Bayer; 66 cats) and treated once on Day 0. For evaluation of efficacy, two faecal samples were collected, one prior to treatment (Day -4 ± 4 days) and one at the end of the study (Day 14 ± 5 days). These were examined for fecal forms of nematode and cestode parasites. For evaluation of safety, cats were examined by a veterinarian before treatment and at the end of the study, and cat owners recorded the health status of their cats daily until the end of the study. For cats treated with Broadline(®), the efficacy was >99.9%, 100%, and 99.6% for Toxocara, hookworms, and Capillaria, respectively; and the efficacy was >99.9%, >99.9%, and 98.5%, respectively, for the cats treated with Profender(®) (p<0.001 for all nematodes and both treatments). Efficacy was 100% for both cestodes for both treatments (p<0.001). No treatment related adverse experiences were observed throughout the study. For both treatments, every cat that completed the study was given a safety score of 'excellent' for both local and systemic evaluations. The topical combination product of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel was shown to have an excellent safety profile and demonstrated high levels of efficacy when administered once as topical solution to cats infected with nematodes and cestodes under field conditions.

Efficacy of Broadline® against Capillaria aerophila lungworm infection in cats

“…As judged by faecal egg count reduction, efficacy of Broadline® treatment providing eprinomectin at a minimum dose of 0.5 mg/kg body weight topically was similar to the results of a large-scale multicentre field study conducted previously in Europe (Rehbein et al 2014) and findings observed following administration to cats of a 10 % imidacloprid/1 % moxidectin spot-on product which delivers moxidectin at a minimum dose of 1 mg/kg body weight (Traversa et al 2012). Efficacy calculated based on reduction of faecal egg counts was reflected by a significant reduction of the number of C. aerophila worms recovered at necropsy.…”

“…As Broadline®, a topical combination product containing fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel, was demonstrated to be efficacious against urinary capillariasis (Knaus et al 2014c) and treatment resulted in >99 % reduction of faecal capillarid egg counts in a field setting (Rehbein et al 2014), the controlled study reported here was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of this product against infections of C. aerophila in cats.…”

Efficacy of a novel topical combination of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel against feline urinary bladder worm (Capillaria plica) infection

“…The results reported here indicate that the novel topical combination formulation is the first product containing a macrocyclic lactone (eprinomectin) whose efficacy in this indication was demonstrated in a well-controlled study. The results of the present study are complemented by the findings reported by Rehbein et al (2014) who report excellent efficacy of the novel combination product against feline capillarids based on faecal egg count reduction in a field study setting involving cats from seven countries in Europe. However, capillarid eggs diagnosed in the faeces of cats in that study were unlikely to be derived from bladder worms but most probably originated from capillarids residing in the lungs.…”

Diagnosis and management of lungworm infections in cats

“…88 < Faecal egg shedding of C aerophila can be reduced or eliminated following a single treatment with eprinomectin. 91,92 Also, cats treated with eprinomectin harboured significantly fewer C aerophila lungworms compared with untreated cats. 92 < oral milbemycin oxime has been effective in treating single cases of A abstrusus or T brevior infection.…”

“…An efficacy of 99.6% in reducing counts of Capillaria eggs was reported after treatment. 91 Although no morphological identification of the eggs was performed, it was assumed that the vast majority were C aerophila. 91 A very recent study has demonstrated that a single treatment with Broadline in naturally infected cats is able to reduce the C aerophila parasite burden and to lower or eliminate faecal egg shedding.…”