title: Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of a novel formulation of metaflumizone in cats naturally infested with fleas in Europe.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of a novel spot-on formulation of metaflumizone (ProMeris for Cats, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Overland Park, KS) was assessed in cats naturally infested with fleas in a multiregional, clinical field study. Sixteen veterinary clinics in Germany and eight clinics in France enrolled patients to the study. A total of 173 cats with flea infestation qualified as primary patients and were randomly allocated to one of the two treatments in a ratio of approximately 2:1 for metaflumizone (minimum dosage of 40mg/kg) or fipronil (at the recommended label rate). Clinical examinations and baseline parasite counts were performed on Day 0 prior to treatment. Flea counts and safety evaluations were repeated at approximately 2-week intervals for 8 weeks. Both treatments resulted in consistent reductions (>84%) in flea numbers throughout the study, but metaflumizone resulted in numerically higher reductions on most count days. Within groups the flea reduction was highly significant (p<0.0001) compared to baseline at all observation periods. The efficacy of metaflumizone against fleas compared to baseline was 91.0%, 89.4%, 90.8% and 90.7% at Day 14, 28, 42 and 56, respectively. The corresponding efficacies for fipronil were 91.7%, 86.9%, 84.6% and 87.7%. Metaflumizone was highly effective in controlling existing infestations of fleas on cats and was effective against reinfestation for at least 56 days. Metaflumizone showed a good tolerance profile in cats.
authors.affiliation: KLIFOVET AG, Geyerspergerstr. 27, D-80689 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hellmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfister
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: DeLay
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rugg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012664:Semicarbazones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D011720:Pyrazoles; D012664:Semicarbazones; D014867:Water; C528570:metaflumizone; C082360:fipronil