Effectiveness and residual speed of flea kill of a novel spot on formulation of spinetoram (Cheristin®) for cats.
A spot-on spinetoram formulation (Cheristin®) was developed to eliminate fleas from infested cats. This paper describes three spinetoram studies: two for registration (Studies 1 and 2), and one comparing residual speed of kill (SOK) with topically applied fipronil/(S)-methoprene (FSM) and imidacloprid (Study 3).



Cats were randomized to treatment based on flea counts from infestations placed within 2 weeks prior to treatment. In Studies 1 and 2, groups were untreated control and spinetoram; in Study 3, groups were untreated control, spinetoram, FSM and imidacloprid, all applied per label on Day 0. Cats were infested the day before treatment. In Studies 1 and 2, counts were completed 48 h post-treatment and after weekly challenges through 5 weeks. In Study 3, infestations were completed weekly through Day 28, with counts 1, 4, 8 and 12 h after treatment or post-infestation (PI). Efficacy was determined on geometric mean flea count reductions compared with controls, and in Study 3 mean flea counts in spinetoram-groups were compared with those in FSM and imidacloprid groups.



In Studies 1 and 2, spinetoram effectiveness was 100% against existing infestations, and at least 96% through Day 37. In Study 3 mean counts were not significantly different from controls in any group until 8 h post-treatment when imidacloprid counts were significantly lower than spinetoram counts, which were in turn significantly lower than FSM counts (P < 0.05). At 1 h PI spinetoram-group counts were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than counts in: controls, all days; imidacloprid, Days 7, 14, and 28; FSM, Days 14 and 28. At 4 h PI, spinetoram mean counts were significantly lower (P < 0.05) relative to: controls, all days; imidacloprid, Days 7, 14 and 21; FSM, Days 7, 14, 21 and 28 (P < 0.05). On multiple occasions, at 8 and 12 h PI, mean counts were significantly lower (P < 0.05) for spinetoram than for imidacloprid and FSM; at no point were FSM or imidacloprid significantly more effective than spinetoram against new infestations. All treatments were well tolerated.



Spinetoram was highly effective for at least 1 month post-treatment and provided more rapid month-long residual SOK than FSM or imidacloprid.
Elanco Animal Health, 2500 Innovation Way, Greenfield, IN, USA.
Tandy
T
Paarlberg
Elanco Animal Health, 2500 Innovation Way, Greenfield, IN, USA.
Joseph
J
Winkle
Elanco Animal Health, 2500 Innovation Way, Greenfield, IN, USA.
Anthony J
AJ
Rumschlag
Elanco Animal Health, 2500 Innovation Way, Greenfield, IN, USA.
Lisa Marie
LM
Young
Ryan Mitchell Associates, LLC, Westfield, NJ, USA.
William G
WG
Ryan
Elanco Animal Health, 2500 Innovation Way, Greenfield, IN, USA. snyder_daniel_e@elanco.com.
Daniel E
DE
Snyder
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D058267:Flea Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018942:Macrolides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007306:Insecticides; D018942:Macrolides; C548262:spinetoram
Cats; Cheristin; Fipronil; Fleas; Imidacloprid; Spinetoram