title: Repellent and insecticidal efficacy of a new combination of fipronil and permethrin against the main vector of canine leishmaniosis in Europe (Phlebotomus perniciosus).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two successive laboratory experiments (A and B) were conducted to confirm the efficacy of a new fipronil and permethrin combination to repel and kill Phlebotomus perniciosus sandflies when applied once topically on dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Due to the difficulty to get enough available dogs and sandflies in one run, the study was divided into 2 experiments which had exactly the same design, and were conducted at the same place, with the same technicians. They compared dogs treated with a combination containing 67.6 mg/mL fipronil + 504.8 mg/mL permethrin (Frontect/Frontline Tri-Act, Merial) to untreated dogs. The treatments were applied topically once on Day 0. Sandfly exposures were performed on Days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 29 with 80 P. perniciosus female sandflies. After 60 min, sandflies were assessed for vitality and engorgement status. Live sandflies were kept in an insectary and observed for mortality counts 4 h after the exposure period ended.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Percent sandfly repellency on treated dogs was 98.2, 98.5, 99.2, 90.9 and 90.3%, for Days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 29, respectively. There was a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between the treated and control groups in both experiments and for the pooled data on every assessment day. Insecticidal efficacy on treated dogs at 4 h post-exposure on Days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 29 was 98.7, 99.7, 96.8, 93.4, and 78.9%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the treated and control groups for live sandflies observed at 4 h post-exposure for all assessment days (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single topical administration of a new combination of fipronil and permethrin demonstrated a significant repellent effect (i.e., > 80%) against P. perniciosus which lasted for 29 days after application. The repellent effect was accompanied by a significant insecticidal effect on sandflies. The results suggest that in endemic areas, the application of the fipronil-permethrin combination could be integrated into canine leishmaniosis prevention program.
authors.affiliation: Merial S.A.S., 29 Av Tony Garnier, 69007, Lyon, France. pascal.dumont@merial.com.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.affiliation: Merial S.A.S., 29 Av Tony Garnier, 69007, Lyon, France. becky.fankhauser@merial.com.
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fankhauser
authors.affiliation: Institut National Polytechnique (INP) - Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, 31076, Toulouse, France. e.bouhsira@envt.fr.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouhsira
authors.affiliation: Institut National Polytechnique (INP) - Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, 31076, Toulouse, France. e.lienard@envt.fr.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lienard
authors.affiliation: Institut National Polytechnique (INP) - Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, 31076, Toulouse, France. p.jacquiet@envt.fr.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jacquiet
authors.affiliation: Merial S.A.S., 29 Av Tony Garnier, 69007, Lyon, France. frederic.beugnet@merial.com.
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beugnet
authors.affiliation: Institut National Polytechnique (INP) - Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, 31076, Toulouse, France. m.franc@envt.fr.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franc
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007300:Insect Control / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000502:physiology; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D026023:Permethrin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D007302:Insect Repellents; D007306:Insecticides; D011720:Pyrazoles; D026023:Permethrin; C082360:fipronil