Efficacy of a topically administered combination of emodepside and praziquantel against mature and immature Ancylostoma tubaeforme in domestic cats.

This paper reports the efficacy of emodepside/praziquantel spot-on (Profender), Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany), a novel broad-spectrum anthelmintic for dermal application, against L4 larvae and immature adult and adult stages of Ancylostoma tubaeforme in cats. The formulation contains 2.14% (w/w) emodepside and 8.58% (w/v) praziquantel, with emodepside being active against gastrointestinal nematodes and praziquantel against cestodes. Five randomized, blinded and controlled laboratory studies demonstrated 100% efficacy of emodepside/praziquantel spot-on against mature A. tubaeforme and an efficacy of >95% and >97%, respectively, against L4 larvae and immature adults (based on worm counts after necropsy) at approximately the minimum proposed dose rate in cats of 3.0 mg emodepside and 12.0 mg praziquantel/kg body weight. No adverse reactions to the treatment were observed. It is concluded that emodepside/praziquantel spot-on is an effective and safe treatment against infections with mature and immature A. tubaeforme. Emodepside/praziquantel spot-on will considerably facilitate the treatment of cats against nematodes and cestodes compared with orally administered preparations.

Field evaluation of the efficacy and safety of emodepside/praziquantel spot-on solution against naturally acquired nematode and cestode infections in domestic cats.

Two controlled, blinded and randomized multi-site clinical field studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of emodepside/praziquantel spot-on in the treatment of gastrointestinal nematode and cestode infections in cats. In a study conducted in Europe, faecal egg count reductions of >98% for all nematode eggs and eggs of Toxocara cati, respectively, were observed in cats treated with emodepside/praziquantel spot-on (Profender, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany). For a positive-control product containing selamectin (Stronghold) reductions of >95% were observed. A 100% reduction of faecal eggs and proglottids was observed in cats treated with emodepside/praziquantel spot-on that were infected with cestodes. In a study conducted in North America, cats were treated with either emodepside/praziquantel spot-on plus a placebo tablet or a combination of two control products containing, respectively, selamectin (Revolution) and epsiprantel (Cestex). Faecal egg count reduction for eggs of T. cati was >99% for both treatments. For faecal eggs and proglottids of Dipylidium caninum reductions of >99 and >97% were recorded for cats treated with emodepside/praziquantel spot-on and the control group, respectively. No adverse reactions were observed in the European study, and only mild ones of short duration in a few cats from both treatment groups of the North American study. The two studies demonstrated that emodepside/praziquantel spot-on is highly efficacious and safe under field conditions.

Comparison of flea control strategies using imidacloprid or lufenuron on cats in a controlled simulated home environment.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of monthly treatments with imidacloprid (an adulticide) or lufenuron (an insect development inhibitor) for protecting cats against Ctenocephalides felis felis in a simulated home environment. ANIMALS: 3 matched groups of 4 cats each. PROCEDURE: A self-propagating flea life cycle continuously exposing cats to 'natural' infestation was established in 3 pens. Small artificial infestations were later superimposed to mimic the effect of a cat roaming outdoors and acquiring extraneous fleas. One pen housed an untreated control group, and the other 2 pens housed cats treated every 28th day with an imidacloprid spot-on formulation or lufenuron suspension, respectively. Flea counts were performed at 14-day intervals for 112 days. RESULTS: Flea numbers increased on control cats around day 42 when mean counts on cats in the imidacloprid and lufenuron groups decreased by 100 and 86.8 percent, respectively. Fleas were not found on any imidacloprid-treated cat, but lufenuron-treated cats were consistently parasitized. CONCLUSIONS: Imidacloprid administered at monthly intervals maintained flea burdens below the limit of detection, whereas clinically important flea populations developed in the lufenuron treatment pen. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results from this experimental model suggest that flea populations within a home may be controlled by carefully timed on-host treatments with potent long-acting insecticides such as imidacloprid.

A novel approach to flea control on cats, using pyriproxyfen.

Pyriproxyfen is a new insect growth regulator with potent activity against developing stages of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. To determine its duration of action after application as a spot-on topical treatment, 20 cats were allocated to two groups. One group acted as untreated controls, and each cat in the other was given a single dose of 1 mg/kg pyriproxyfen. Each cat was infected with fleas at weekly intervals and caged. Eggs were collected and their viability determined as a measure of the effect of the agent on adult fleas. The effect of the transfer of pyriproxyfen from each cat to its immediate surroundings was monitored by observing the development of fertile flea eggs placed on samples of blanket taken from each cage. Results from untreated control cats showed that the experimental conditions were favourable for the lifecycle of the flea. Flea reproduction on treated cats was inhibited completely for seven weeks and substantially for at least a further two weeks. Blankets used by cats treated up to two weeks previously prevented flea development entirely and substantial control was still achieved up to four weeks after treatment.