title: Prevention of canine leishmaniosis in a hyper-endemic area using a combination of 10% imidacloprid/4.5% flumethrin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dogs are the main reservoir hosts of Leishmania infantum, the agent of human zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis. This study investigated the efficacy of a polymer matrix collar containing a combination of 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin as a novel prophylactic measure to prevent L. infantum infections in young dogs from a hyper-endemic area of southern Italy, with a view towards enhancing current control strategies against both human and canine leishmaniosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study was carried out on 124 young dogs, of which 63 were collared (Group A) while 61 were left untreated (Group B), from March-April 2011 until March 2012. Blood and skin samples were collected at baseline (April 2011) and at the first, second, third and fourth follow-up time points (July, September 2011 and November 2011, and March 2012, respectively). Bone marrow and conjunctiva were sampled at baseline and at the fourth follow-up. Serological, cytological and molecular tests were performed to detect the presence of L. infantum in the different tissues collected. At the end of the trial, no dog from Group A proved positive for L. infantum at any follow-up, whereas 22 dogs from Group B were infected (incidence density rate = 45.1%); therefore, the combination of 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin was 100% efficacious for the prevention of L. infantum infection in young dogs prior to their first exposure to the parasite in a hyper-endemic area for CanL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of collars containing 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin conferred long-term protection against infection by L. infantum to dogs located in a hyper-endemic area, thus representing a reliable and sustainable strategy to decrease the frequency and spread of this disease among the canine population which will ultimately result in the reduction of associated risks to human health.
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Italy. domenico.otranto@uniba.it
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Otranto
authors: Filipe
authors: F
authors: Dantas-Torres
authors: Donato
authors: D
authors: de Caprariis
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Di Paola
authors: Viviana D
authors: VD
authors: Tarallo
authors: Maria S
authors: MS
authors: Latrofa
authors: Riccardo P
authors: RP
authors: Lia
authors: Giada
authors: G
authors: Annoscia
authors: Edward B
authors: EB
authors: Breitshwerdt
authors: Cinzia
authors: C
authors: Cantacessi
authors: Gioia
authors: G
authors: Capelli
authors: Dorothee
authors: D
authors: Stanneck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011722:Pyrethrins; C041392:flumethrin; C082359:imidacloprid