title: The efficacy of Advantix® to prevent transmission of Ehrlichia canis to dogs by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks.
abstract: The capacity of a topical combination of imidacloprid and permethrin (Advantix(®)) to prevent transmission of Ehrlichia canis was studied in two groups of six dogs. One group served as controls, whereas the other group was treated. All dogs were exposed to E. canis-infected Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks on Days 7, 14, 21 and Day 28 post acaricidal treatment. The adult R. sanguineus ticks were released into the individual kennels of the dogs to simulate natural tick exposure. In situ tick counts were conducted on Day 9, 16 and 23 and any remaining ticks were counted and removed on Day 30. The efficacy of the acaricidal treatment against R. sanguineus ranged between 96.1% and 98.9% at 48 h post-application and lasted up to 4 weeks. Four out of six control dogs became infected with E. canis, as demonstrated by the presence of specific E. canis antibodies and the detection by PCR of E. canis DNA in blood samples. These dogs became thrombocytopenic and displayed fever and were consecutively rescue-treated by doxycycline. None of the six treated dogs became infected with E. canis, as confirmed by the lack of specific antibodies and absence of E. canis DNA in blood samples. Advantix(®) prevented transmission of E. canis and provided protection against monocytic ehrlichiosis for 4 weeks post acaricidal treatment.
authors.affiliation: ClinVet International (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 11186, Universitas, Bloemfontein 9321, South Africa.
authors.forename: Josephus Johannes
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fourie
authors.forename: Herman Gerhardus
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Luus
authors.forename: Dorothee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stanneck
authors.forename: Frans
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jongejan
mesh_terms: D056810:Acaricides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards; D026023:Permethrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards; D048508:Rhipicephalus sanguineus / Q000382:microbiology*; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D056810:Acaricides; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007093:Imidazoles; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds; C082359:imidacloprid; D026023:Permethrin