title: Efficacy of fluralaner flavored chews (Bravecto) administered to dogs against the adult cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis and egg production.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fluralaner is a potent insecticide and acaricide with rapid and persistent efficacy. This study measured the efficacy of fluralaner flavored chews (Bravecto®, Merck Animal Health) administered to dogs against adult Ctenocephalides felis felis and egg production.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve purpose-bred dogs were randomly allocated to two groups of six dogs each. Dogs in treatment group 1 were administered a single fluralaner flavored chew to achieve a minimum dose of at least 25 mg/kg while treatment group 2 served as untreated controls. On Days -2, 28, 56, 84, 91, 98, 105, 112, and 120 post-treatment, each dog was infested with approximately 200 unfed cat fleas, C. felis felis (KS1 strain). Forty-eight hours after treatment and 48 h after each infestation, eggs were collected over a 3-h period, counted and viability determined. Dogs were combed to remove any remaining fleas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of dogs with oral fluralaner provided a 100% reduction in flea counts 48 h after treatment and within 48 h of every post-treatment infestation through Day122. Egg production from fluralaner treated dogs was reduced by 99.9% (two eggs from one dog) within 48 h after treatment and not a single egg (100% efficacy) was thereafter collected from treated dogs. Adult flea counts and egg production from the fluralaner-treated dogs were significantly lower than for non-treated controls at all post-treatment evaluations (P < 0.001). The two eggs collected from the single treated dog 48 h after treatment did not produce any adult fleas. As no additional eggs were collected from treated dogs, no viability assessment was performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single oral dose of fluralaner flavored chews provided 100% efficacy against repeated flea infestations on dogs for 4 months. Fluralaner reduced egg production of activity reproducing female fleas by 99.9% and then killed every single female flea before any eggs could be produced following each subsequent re-infestation for the entire 122-day evaluation period.
authors.affiliation: Dept. 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: Dept. 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: Dept. of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. tashina@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Tashina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Merck Animal Health, 2 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ, 07940, USA. lisa.math@merck.com.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Math
authors.affiliation: Merck Animal Health, 2 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ, 07940, USA. james.kallman@merck.com.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kallman
authors.affiliation: Merck Animal Health, 2 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ, 07940, USA. kathleen.heaney@merck.com.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heaney
authors.affiliation: Merck Animal Health, 2 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ, 07940, USA. fangshi.sun@merck.com.
authors.forename: Fangshi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D058251:Ctenocephalides / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D058267:Flea Infestations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count
chemical_list: C000591860:A1443 compound; D007555:Isoxazoles