The prevention of transmission of Babesia canis canis by Dermacentor reticulatus ticks to dogs using a novel combination of fipronil, amitraz and (S)-methoprene.

Abstract

Four groups of seven dogs were treated topically with a novel combination of fipronil, amitraz and (S)-methoprene in a spot-on formulation (CERTIFECT™, Merial Limited, GA, USA) on 28, 21, 14 and 7 days prior to tick infestation, respectively and acaricidal efficacy and transmission blocking compared with an untreated control group (seven dogs). All dogs were infested with adult Dermacentor reticulatus ticks harbouring Babesia canis canis. Babesia canis canis was transmitted by D. reticulatus to all seven untreated control dogs, confirmed following demonstration of clinical signs, by the detection of B. canis parasites in thin blood smears and B. canis canis PCR-RLB DNA assay on blood and the development of B. canis canis antibody titres by 14-21 days after tick infestation. The majority of treated dogs remained sero-negative for 42 days after infestation. Therefore, the treatment of dogs with CERTIFECT applied up to 28 days prior to infestation with D. reticulatus harbouring B. canis canis, successfully prevented the development of clinical signs of canine babesiosis.

• Authors: Frans Jongejan, Josephus J Fourie, S Theodore Chester, Coralie Manavella, Yasmina Mallouk, Matthias G Pollmeier, Derek Baggott
• Journal: Veterinary parasitology (Vet Parasitol) Vol. 179 Issue 4 Pg. 343-50 (Jul 15 2011) ISSN: 1873-2550 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21777737 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Drug Combinations
• Insecticides
• Pyrazoles
• Toluidines
• amitraz
• Methoprene
• fipronil

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Animals
• Arachnid Vectors (drug effects, parasitology, physiology)
• Babesia (physiology)
• Babesiosis (parasitology, prevention & control, transmission, veterinary)
• Dermacentor (drug effects, parasitology, physiology)
• Dog Diseases (drug therapy, parasitology, prevention & control, transmission)
• Dogs
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Combinations
• Europe
• Female
• Insecticides (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Methoprene (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Pyrazoles (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Tick Control (methods)
• Tick Infestations (drug therapy, parasitology, prevention & control, veterinary)
• Time Factors
• Toluidines (pharmacology, therapeutic use)