title: Evaluation of the long-term efficacy and safety of an imidacloprid 10%/flumethrin 4.5% polymer matrix collar (Seresto®) in dogs and cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks in multicentre clinical field studies in Europe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of these two GCP multicentre European clinical field studies was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of a new imidacloprid/flumethrin collar (Seresto®, Bayer AnimalHealth, Investigational Veterinary Product(IVP)) in dogs and cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks in comparison to a dimpylat collar ("Ungezieferband fuer Hunde/fuer Katzen", Beaphar, Control Product (CP)).
  
  
  METHODS
  232 (IVP) and 81 (CP) cats and 271(IVP) and 129 (CP) dogs were treated with either product according to label claims and formed the safety population. Flea and tick counts were conducted in monthly intervals for up to 8 months in the efficacy subpopulation consisting of 118 (IVP) + 47 (CP) cats and 197 (IVP) + 94 (CP) dogs. Efficacy was calculated as reduction of infestation rate within the same treatment group and statistically compared between the two treatment groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preventive efficacy against fleas in cats/dogs varied in the IVP group between 97.4%/94.1% and 100%/100% (overall mean: 98.3%/96.7%) throughout the 8 month period and in the CP group between 57.1%/28.2% and 96.1%/67.8% (overall mean: 79.3%/57.9%). Preventive efficacy against ticks in cats/dogs varied in the IVP group between 94.0%/91.2% and 100%/100% (overall mean: 98.4%/94.7%) throughout the 8 month period and in the CP group between 90.7%/79.9% and 100%/88.0% (overall mean: 96.9%/85.6%). The IVP group was statistically non-inferior to the CP group, and on various assessment days, statistical superiority was proven for flea and tick count reduction in dogs and cats. Both treatments proved to be safe in dogs and cats with mainly minor local observations at the application site. There was moreover, no incidence of any mechanical problem with the collar in dogs and cats during the entire study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The imidacloprid/flumethrin collar proved to reduce tick counts by at least 90% and flea counts by at least 95% for a period of at least 7-8 months in cats and dogs under field conditions. Therefore, it can be used as sustainable long-term preventative, covering the whole flea and tick season.
authors.affiliation: Bayer Animal Health GmbH-BAH, Monheim, Germany. Dorothee.stanneck@bayer.com
authors.forename: Dorothee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stanneck
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rass
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Radeloff
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kruedewagen
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Sueur
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hellmann
authors.forename: Klemens
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krieger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005060:Europe; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D013987:Ticks / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D007306:Insecticides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011722:Pyrethrins; C041392:flumethrin; C082359:imidacloprid