title: An exploratory study to assess the activity of the acarine growth inhibitor, fluazuron, against Sarcoptes scabei infestation in pigs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most common treatments for scabies in human and veterinary settings are topical 5% permethrin or systemic treatment with ivermectin. However, these treatments have very little activity against arthropod eggs, and therefore repeated treatment is frequently required. In-vitro, biochemical and molecular studies have demonstrated that human mites are becoming increasingly resistant to both acaricides. To identify alternate acaricides, we undertook a pilot study of the in vivo activity of the benzoylphenyl urea inhibitor of chitin synthesis, fluazuron, in pigs with sarcoptic mange.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pigs (n = 5) were infested with S. scabei var suis, and randomised to treatment at the start of peak infestation with fluazuron at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day per os for 7 days (n = 3) or no treatment (n = 2). Clinical scores, skin scrapings for mite counts and blood sampling for pharmacokinetic analysis were undertaken. Fluazuron was well absorbed in treated pigs with measureable blood levels up to 4 weeks post treatment. No adverse effects were observed. Modest acaricidal activity of the compound was observed, with a reduction in severity of skin lesions in treated pigs, as well as a reduction in number of scabies mite's early life stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The moderate efficacy of fluazuron against scabies mites indicates a lead to the development of alternate treatments for scabies, such as combination therapies that maybe applicable for human use in the future.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Australia. Cielo.Pasay@qimr.edu.au
authors.forename: Cielo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasay
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rothwell
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mounsey
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miezler
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D056810:Acaricides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D026023:Permethrin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011897:Random Allocation; D012520:Sarcoptes scabiei / Q000187:drug effects*; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D056810:Acaricides; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D026023:Permethrin; D007559:Ivermectin; C104929:fluazuron