title: [Questionnaire on the incidence and control of fleas in dogs and cats presented to German small animal practices].
abstract: 2590 small animal practitioners in Germany have been asked by a questionnaire from which 1694 (65.4%) replied. 1186 of these veterinarians (70%) often see ectoparasite infestation. Fleas are predominant and occur on cats (1016/60%), followed by dogs (424/25%), small mammals and birds (254/15%). Flea infestations on dogs and cats are observed throughout the year, but the prevalences are generally higher during the summer season. The results reveal that topically administered spot-on formulations is the most popular method used for flea control. The most common applied antiparasitic substances both in dogs and in cats were fipronil (535/31.6%; 690/40.7%), imidacloprid (290/17.1%; 417/24.6%) and selamectin (267/15.8%; 319/18.8%). Due to 771 (45.5%) of the answering veterinarians the animal owner himself, and according 694 (41%) respectively 229 (13.5%) of the replies the veterinarian or the veterinary technician applies the antiparasiticide onto the skin. 1457 veterinarians (86%) administer compounds against adult fleas and their developmental stages also in the animal's environment.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Vergleichende Tropenmedizin und Parasitologie, Tierärztliche Fakultät der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. W.Beck@tropa.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Wieland
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfister
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000187:drug effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents