Knock-down and speed of kill of a combination of fipronil and permethrin for the prevention of Ctenocephalides felis flea infestation in dogs

Abstract

BackgroundA topical combination of fipronil + permethrin (Frontline Tri-Act®/Frontect®, Merial) has recently been developed to control fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, sandflies and stable flies on dogs. Two studies were conducted to assess its speed of kill and knock-down effect on Ctenocephalides felis fleas. The combination was compared to either fipronil alone or to a combination of permethrin, dinotefuran, and pyriproxyfen,MethodsIn each study, 18 dogs were randomly allocated to one of three groups: (Group 1: untreated dog; Group 2: treated once on D0 with the combination of fipronil and permethrin; Group 3: treated once on D0 either with fipronil alone (study 1) or with a combination of permethrin, dinetofuran and pyriproxyfen (study 2)). Each dog was infested with 100 unfed adult C. felis fleas on Days 2 (study 2), 7, 14, 21 and 28. Fleas were collected from dogs at 1 h and 12 h post- infestations (PI) (study 1) or at 2 h and 6 h PI (study 2) to assess efficacy and from collection pans underneath cages 1 h (study 1) or 5 min (study 2) PI to assess knock-down effect.ResultsAll treated dogs had significantly (p ≤ 0.01) lower flea counts than untreated dogs at every time point in both studies. For a whole month, a significant knock-down effect against infesting fleas is obtained in five minutes PI with the combination of permethrin and fipronil. Complete efficacy (>95 %) was achieved in 1 h (study 1) or 2 h (study 2) PI for 14 days and by 6 h PI for all challenges conducted throughout the month. Efficacy remains >85 % at 2 h PI for the whole month. A significantly higher efficacy of the fipronil + permethrin combination compared to other treatments was demonstrated at the earliest time points for the month (1 h knock-down effect and insecticidal efficacy compared to fipronil alone; 5 min knock-down effect compared to the combination of permethrin + dinetofuran + pyriproxyfen).ConclusionsThe rapid flea knock-down effect and speed of kill demonstrated by the spot on combination of fipronil + permethrin provide a reliable strategy against flea infestations in dogs.

Assessment of the efficacy of a topical combination of fipronil-permethrin (Frontline Tri-Act®/Frontect®) against egg laying and adult emergence of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) in dogs

“…The treatment quickly stopped egg production of existing female fleas present on dogs, with a curative efficacy of 84.5% in 36 h. It almost completely prevented the production of eggs by new infesting fleas during the first month (>99.9%), and completely (100%) during the second month. These results confirm the high level of adulticidal efficacy of Frontline Tri-Act ® /Frontect ® against both existing and new infesting fleas, as previously reported for this product [2, 14]. …”

“…It has also been demonstrated in the field in studies using flea traps to assess environmental control [7, 8]. Halos et al [14] and Beugnet et al [2] recently demonstrated the rapid onset of action and the knock-down effect of Frontline Tri-Act ® /Frontect ® on C. felis and C. canis fleas. Efficacy was >98.5% ( C. felis ) and >99.1% ( C. canis ) within 6 h after infestation for 28 days [2, 14].…”

“…Halos et al [14] and Beugnet et al [2] recently demonstrated the rapid onset of action and the knock-down effect of Frontline Tri-Act ® /Frontect ® on C. felis and C. canis fleas. Efficacy was >98.5% ( C. felis ) and >99.1% ( C. canis ) within 6 h after infestation for 28 days [2, 14]. In the present study, the number of eggs produced on Day 0 to 1 in both groups was related to the pre-treatment infestation that occurred 48 h before the topical application.…”

“…A single topical application provides immediate and sustained insecticidal efficacy against adult fleas [11]. Recently, the speed of kill provided by Frontline Tri-Act ® against C. felis and Ctenocephalides canis fleas was demonstrated, with a sustained killing effect in 6 h for 4 weeks against new infesting fleas [2, 14]. …”

Eficácia da associação de fipronil e permetrina no controle de ctenocephalides felis felis e rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato em cães artificialmente infestados

“…Esta associação demonstrou eficácia semelhante a outros estudos realizados para os carrapatos R. sanguineus, Ixodes ricinus e pulgas C. felis felis (Otranto et al, 2005;Bonneau et al, 2015;Beugnet et al, 2016;Halos et al, 2016).…”