Application of 10% imidacloprid/50% permethrin to prevent Ehrlichia canis exposure in dogs under natural conditions.

Abstract

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) caused by Ehrlichia canis is the most known canine tick-borne disease (TBD) spread throughout the world. Preventing tick bites is a priority to reduce the risk of TBDs and it was the aim of the present study to evaluate the efficacy of a combination of imidacloprid 10% and permethrin 50% (ImPer) (Advantix; Bayer AG, Germany) in a spot-on formulation to control CME under field conditions. On January-March 2005, 845 dogs from two kennels in southern Italy (kennels of Bari (KB)- and Ginosa (KG)), with a history of tick infestation were initially tested by serology and PCR assay for E. canis infection. Data on Leishmania infantum infection were also available from a previous study carried out on the same dog population. One hundred twenty-six dogs (14.9%) presented anti-E. canis antibodies with a relative prevalence of 15.6% (n=65 dogs in KB) and 14.2% (n=61 dogs in KG). Five hundred thirty-five animals found negative both for E. canis and L. infantum infections were enrolled in three groups (Group A--treated with ImPer once a month; Group B--treated every 2 weeks; and Group C--untreated control animals) and monitored for E. canis infection by serology and PCR in November 2005 (first follow-up) and in March 2006 (second follow-up). The E. canis infection was serologically revealed, at the first and/or second follow-up, in 26 animals from Group C in KB and KG (mean incidence density rate (IDR), 13.24%) while in none of the animals from Group A (KB and KG) and only in one animal from Group B (IDR 1.13%) in KG. The final protection efficacy of ImPer ranged from 95.57% to 100% in Groups B and A. At PCR only 15 dogs from KG were positive for Rickettsiales only at the first follow-up and at the sequence analysis two (both in Group C) revealed 100% homology with E. canis sequences while 13 with Anaplasma platys. Four out of 13 A. platys PCR-positive dogs were also seropositive for E. canis at one or both follow-ups. ImPer, by virtue of its repellent and acaricidal activity against ticks, has been shown to be efficacious to prevent E. canis infection in treated dogs living under natural conditions in endemic areas.

• Authors: Domenico Otranto, Paola Paradies, Gabriella Testini, Maria Stefania Latrofa, Stefania Weigl, Cinzia Cantacessi, Norbert Mencke, Donato de Caprariis, Antonio Parisi, Gioia Capelli, Dorothee Stanneck
• Journal: Veterinary parasitology (Vet Parasitol) Vol. 153 Issue 3-4 Pg. 320-8 (May 31 2008) ISSN: 0304-4017 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 18359166 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Imidazoles
• Insecticides
• Neonicotinoids
• Nitro Compounds
• imidacloprid
• Permethrin

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Bacterial (blood)
• Arachnid Vectors (microbiology)
• Dog Diseases (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Dogs
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Ehrlichia canis (immunology)
• Ehrlichiosis (prevention & control, transmission, veterinary)
• Female
• Imidazoles (pharmacology)
• Insecticides (pharmacology)
• Italy (epidemiology)
• Male
• Neonicotinoids
• Nitro Compounds (pharmacology)
• Permethrin (pharmacology)
• Seroepidemiologic Studies
• Tick Infestations (microbiology, prevention & control, veterinary)
• Ticks (drug effects, microbiology)
• Treatment Outcome