Six-month field efficacy and safety of the combined treatment of dogs with Frontline Tri-Act® and NexGard Spectra®

Abstract

BackgroundSafety and efficacy of the combined monthly use of spot-on fipronil 6.76% w/v / permethrin 50.48% w/v (Frontline Tri-Act®) and chewable tablets of afoxolaner 1.9% w/w / milbemycin oxime 0.4% w/w (NexGard Spectra®) in dogs was evaluated in a field study over a period of 6 months.MethodsForty-one healthy dogs living in highly endemic area for canine leishmaniosis and other canine vector borne diseases (VBD) were included in the study at the beginning of the Leishmania transmission season. Sixteen dogs were pet dogs living each in a single household; twenty-five dogs were hunting dogs living in three kennels. At inclusion, the dogs were ELISA (rapid test) negative for antibodies to Anaplasma, Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and for antigens of Dirofilaria. The dogs were also negative for blood microfilariae at the Knott’s test, and no clinical or haematological abnormalities were observed. Of the included dogs, six hunting, apparently healthy, dogs were ELISA (rapid test) positive to Leishmania, and some were naturally infected by gastrointestinal nematodes (58.5%) and/or infested by fleas (58.5%) and ticks (9.8%). All the included dogs were treated at Days 0, 28, 56, 84, 112 and 140, and followed-up for efficacy until the study end (Day 168).ResultsNo adverse events related to the two products, nor skin reactions, general signs, or changes in the haematological profile, were observed during the study. At Day 14, anthelminthic efficacy was 100% for Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina and Capillaria aerophila, while few hunting dogs were still shedding eggs of Trichuris vulpis (1/25 hunting dog) and Ancylostomatidae (9/25 hunting dogs). All pet dogs were nematode free at the end of the study. Hunting dogs were free of roundworms and whipworms. Twenty-four hours after the first treatment, 95.8% of the ectoparasite infested dogs were free from fleas and ticks. Ectoparasites were significantly controlled during the 6-month study period, with 100% efficacy on both fleas and ticks from Day 56 to Day 168. Blood and serum samples collected on Day 168 were tested for vector-borne pathogens using same methods of the inclusion and no new seroconversions or circulating blood microfilariae were observed.ConclusionsConcomitant use of Frontline Tri-Act® and NexGard Spectra® in dogs for six months was well tolerated. The combination was effective in controlling fleas, ticks, gastro-intestinal nematodes, and neither new seroconversion to the tested vector-borne pathogens nor blood microfilariae were detected in treated dogs at the end of the study.

Efficacy of milbemycin oxime/afoxolaner chewable tablets (NEXGARD SPECTRA®) against Capillaria aerophila and Capillaria boehmi in naturally infected dogs

“…The results of the present study indicate that the combination product containing MO and afoxolaner (NEXGARD SPECTRA ® ) had a beneficial effect for treating pulmonary and nasal capillarioses in infected dogs with two consecutive monthly treatments. This study confirms previous reports on the efficacy of MO against Capillaria infections in dogs under field conditions [ 3 , 18 , 20 , 23 , 24 ]. A > 99% efficacy of NEXGARD SPECTRA ® in reduction of egg shedding in dogs has been previously published, although the eggs were not identified to species [ 18 ].…”

“…A > 99% efficacy of NEXGARD SPECTRA ® in reduction of egg shedding in dogs has been previously published, although the eggs were not identified to species [ 18 ]. A recent study that investigated the combined monthly use of NEXGARD SPECTRA ® and fipronil/permethrin (FRONTLINE TRI-ACT ® , Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH) against endo- and ectoparasites of dogs indicated 100% efficacy against C. aerophila in 8 dogs 14 days after treatment [ 20 ]. The therapeutic efficacy of MO against C. boehmi was also reported in single clinical cases [ 23 , 24 ].…”

“…Afoxolaner is efficacious against major fleas, ticks and mites in dogs, while MO provides efficacy against intestinal and extra-intestinal nematodes. MO has been reported to be efficacious against canine capillarioses [ 18 , 20 , 23 , 24 ]. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of MO contained in NEXGARD SPECTRA ® for the treatment of naturally acquired C. aerophila and/or C. boehmi infections in dogs under field conditions.…”

Recent Advancements in the Control of Cat Fleas

“…In a study in Sicily and southern Italy, a topical treatment of fipronil + permethrin and an oral dose of afoxolaner + milbemycin oxime was provided to each dog. In addition to killing fleas and ticks, the combination treatment provided a broad spectrum of protection against Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp., and dog heartworm [ 44 ].…”

Experimental assessment of permethrin-fipronil combination in preventing Leishmania infantum transmission to dogs under natural exposures

“…In another six month field study conducted in Sicily, following 41 dogs treated monthly with both Frontline Tri-Act and NexGard Spectra (afoxolaner + milbemycin). Six of those 41 dogs were positive at the beginning of the study, and the 35 Leishmania negative dogs remained negative until the end ( Abbate et al, 2018 ).…”