Efficacy of fluralaner flavored chews (Bravecto (R)) administered to dogs against the adult cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis and egg production - Dryden, Michael W.; Smith, Victorene E.; Bennett, T.; Math, L.; Kallman, J.; Heaney, K.; Sun, F. S. (My University, 2015)
Citation: Dryden, M. W., Smith, V., Bennett, T., Math, L., Kallman, J., Heaney, K., & Sun, F. S. (2015). Efficacy of fluralaner flavored chews (Bravecto (R)) administered to dogs against the adult cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis and egg production. Parasites & Vectors, 8, 7. doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0965-4
Background: Fluralaner is a potent insecticide and acaricide with rapid and persistent efficacy. This study measured the efficacy of fluralaner flavored chews (Bravecto (R), Merck Animal Health) administered to dogs against adult Ctenocephalides felis felis and egg production. Methods: Twelve purpose-bred dogs were randomly allocated to two groups of six dogs each. Dogs in treatment group 1 were administered a single fluralaner flavored chew to achieve a minimum dose of at least 25 mg/kg while treatment group 2 served as untreated controls. On Days -2, 28, 56, 84, 91, 98, 105, 112, and 120 post-treatment, each dog was infested with approximately 200 unfed cat fleas, C. felis felis (KS1 strain). Forty-eight hours after treatment and 48 h after each infestation, eggs were collected over a 3-h period, counted and viability determined. Dogs were combed to remove any remaining fleas. Results: Treatment of dogs with oral fluralaner provided a 100 % reduction in flea counts 48 h after treatment and within 48 h of every post-treatment infestation through Day122. Egg production from fluralaner treated dogs was reduced by 99.9 % (two eggs from one dog) within 48 h after treatment and not a single egg (100 % efficacy) was thereafter collected from treated dogs. Adult flea counts and egg production from the fluralaner-treated dogs were significantly lower than for non-treated controls at all post-treatment evaluations (P < 0.001). The two eggs collected from the single treated dog 48 h after treatment did not produce any adult fleas. As no additional eggs were collected from treated dogs, no viability assessment was performed. Conclusions: A single oral dose of fluralaner flavored chews provided 100 % efficacy against repeated flea infestations on dogs for 4 months. Fluralaner reduced egg production of activity reproducing female fleas by 99.9 % and then killed every single female flea before any eggs could be produced following each subsequent re-infestation for the entire 122-day evaluation period.
Keywords: Flea; Ctenocephalides Felis Felis; Cat Flea; Dogs; Fluralaner; Egg