title: Safety and efficacy of spinosad chewable tablets for treatment of flea infestations of cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare safety and efficacy of spinosad and selamectin and determine effects of those products on flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) in cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized clinical trial. Animals-211 client-owned cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cats with ≥ 5 fleas evaluated at 8 veterinary clinics were allocated to receive spinosad (50 to 100 mg/kg [22.7 to 45.5 mg/lb], PO; n = 139) or selamectin (≥ 6 mg/kg [≥ 2.7 mg/lb], topically; 72) once per month. Flea comb counts and FAD scores were determined on day -1, between days 27 and 33, and between days 85 and 95 (evaluations 1, 2, and 3, respectively); day 0 was the first day of drug administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common adverse event was vomiting (14.3% and 2.4% of spinosad- and selamectin-treated cats, respectively). Evaluation 2 and 3 geometric mean flea counts for spinosad-treated cats were significantly lower than those for selamectin-treated cats. Percentage reductions in flea counts for the spinosad and selamectin groups were 97.5% and 88.8% (evaluation 2) and 99.3% and 97.7% (evaluation 3), respectively. At evaluations 2 and 3, 70.6% and 92.6% of spinosad-treated cats and 29.4% and 64.7% of selamectin-treated cats were free of fleas, respectively. Weighted FAD scores for spinosad- and selamectin-treated cats decreased 94.2% and 80.0% during the study, respectively. Spinosad tablets were successfully administered during 98.1% of treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study indicated spinosad and selamectin both reduced flea counts and FAD scores for cats, although spinosad was more effective. Monthly oral administration of spinosad may be practical for treatment of flea infestations and FAD in cats.
authors.affiliation: Elanco Animal Health, 2500 Innovation Way, Greenfield, IN 46140, USA.
authors.forename: Tandy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Paarlberg
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiseman
authors.forename: Candace M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Trout
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Snyder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018942:Macrolides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D007306:Insecticides; D018942:Macrolides; D013607:Tablets; D007559:Ivermectin; C414354:selamectin; C415329:spinosad