title: Evaluation of afoxolaner chewables to control flea populations in naturally infested dogs in private residences in Tampa FL, USA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of afoxolaner chewables to control flea populations in naturally infested dogs in private residences in Tampa FL, USA. Evaluations of on-animal and premises flea burdens, flea sex structure and fed-unfed premises flea populations were conducted to more accurately assess flea population dynamics in households.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty seven naturally flea infested dogs in 23 homes in Tampa, FL were enrolled in the study and treated with afoxolaner chewables. Chewables (NexGard® Chewables; Merial) were administered according to label directions by study investigators on study day 0 and once again between study days 28 and 30. Flea infestations on pets were assessed using visual area thumb counts and premises flea infestations were assessed using intermittent-light flea traps on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and once between study days 28-30, 40-45, and 54-60.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within 7 days of administration of afoxolaner chewable tablets, flea counts on dogs were reduced by 99.3%. By one month post-treatment, total flea counts on dogs were reduced by 99.9%, with 97.3% (36/37) of the dogs being flea free. Following the second dosing on study day 28-30, total on-dog flea burden was reduced by 100% on days 40-45 and 54-60. On day 0, the traps collected a geometric mean of 18.2 fleas. Subsequent reductions in emerging flea populations were 97.7 and 100% by days 28-30 and 54-60, respectively. There were 515 total fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis) collected in the intermittent light flea traps on day 0, and 40.4% of those fleas displayed visual evidence of having fed. Seven days after initial treatment, only 13.1% of the fleas contained blood and by day 14 only 4.9% of the fleas collected in traps displayed evidence of having fed. On day 0, prior to treatment, 60% of the unfed fleas collected in intermittent-light flea traps were females, but by days 28-30, unfed males accounted for 78% of the population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This in-home investigation conducted during the summer of 2014 in subtropical Tampa, FL demonstrated that afoxolaner chewables rapidly and effectively eliminated flea populations in infested dogs and homes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. Dryden@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Dryden
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. VSmith@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. mchwala@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chwala
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. emjo@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Emery
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. lisac79@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crevoiserat
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. mcgrjc6@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: McGrady
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. kfoley1@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Kaitlin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. prpatton@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Paula R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. thawk30@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.affiliation: Merial, Inc., 3239 Satellite Blvd., Duluth, GA, 30096, USA. Doug.Carithers@Merial.com.
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carithers
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D058267:Flea Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010571:Pest Control; D057805:Pets / Q000469:parasitology*; D005423:Siphonaptera
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D007555:Isoxazoles; D009281:Naphthalenes; C000589002:afoxolaner