Efficacy of a collar impregnated with amitraz and pyriproxyfen for prevention of experimental tick infestations by Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Ixodes ricinus, and Ixodes scapularis in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of collars impregnated with 9% amitraz or 9% amitraz and 0.5% pyriproxyfen (PPF) for control of newly established tick infestations by Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Ixodes ricinus, and Ixodes scapularis in dogs and determine whether egg production by surviving female ticks was decreased.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
72 dogs.


METHODS
Dogs were fitted with 1 of 3 test collars impregnated with amitraz, amitraz and PPF, or only excipients (untreated controls). In 3 trials corresponding to each of the 3 tick species, dogs were infested with 150 unfed adult ticks on days 8, 10, 13, and 18. The number of feeding female ticks was recorded on days 10, 13, 18, and 28. Surviving females were weighed and permitted to oviposit under controlled conditions.


RESULTS
Collars impregnated with amitraz and PPF decreased tick loads as efficiently as collars containing amitraz alone. Inclusion of PPF into the collar did not significantly decrease the efficacy of amitraz. The few female ticks that survived after feeding on dogs treated with collars containing PPF were unable to oviposit.


CONCLUSIONS
Collars impregnated with amitraz were efficient in preventing tick infestations in dogs but did not inhibit oviposition in the few surviving female ticks. Incorporation of PPF into the amitraz-impregnated collar resulted in impairment of the reproductive ability of ticks.
Estrada-Peña
Agustin
A
Department of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
Rème
Christophe
C
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018884:Ixodes / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D048508:Rhipicephalus sanguineus / Q000502:physiology*; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D014052:Toluidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007306:Insecticides; D011725:Pyridines; D014052:Toluidines; C014983:amitraz; C055613:pyriproxyfen