title: Evaluation of the efficacy of afoxolaner against two European dog tick species: Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus.
abstract: The acaricidal efficacy of a novel oral formulation of afoxolaner (NEXGARD(®), Merial) against two European tick species was assessed in dogs experimentally infested with Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus. Three studies, each characterized by a negative controlled randomized block design, were conducted with a total of 52 beagle or mongrel dogs of both sexes. Starting 2 days before treatment, each dog was infested weekly with approximately 50 ticks. The number of live ticks was counted at 48 h post-treatment (Day 2) as well as 48 h following each infestation on Days 9, 16, 23, and 30. Afoxolaner, administered at an average dose of 2.7 mg/kg bodyweight (range 2.5-2.9 mg/kg), rapidly eliminated the pre-existing tick infestations with over 99% acaricidal efficacy and controlled the weekly re-infestations for up to 30 days post treatment with over 96% efficacy on both tick species. Afoxolaner provides excellent acaricidal efficacy against these two major European tick species using the oral route of administration.
authors.affiliation: Merial SAS, 29 Av Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France. Electronic address: Pascal.dumont@merial.com.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.affiliation: Merial SAS, 29 Av Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.affiliation: ClinVet International, Universitas 9301, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa.
authors.forename: Josephus J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fourie
authors.affiliation: Merial Limited, 3239 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, GA 30096, USA.
authors.forename: Theodore S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Chester
authors.affiliation: Merial Limited, 3239 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, GA 30096, USA.
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Larsen
mesh_terms: D056810:Acaricides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003870:Dermacentor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018884:Ixodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D059208:Parasite Load; D011897:Random Allocation; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D056810:Acaricides; D007555:Isoxazoles; D009281:Naphthalenes; C000589002:afoxolaner
keywords: Afoxolaner; Dermacentor reticulatus; Dog; Ixodes ricinus; Tick