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. 2018 Apr 16;11(1):247.
doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-2831-7.

Repellent efficacy of a new combination of fipronil and permethrin against Lutzomyia longipalpis

André Antonio Cutolo  1 , Fredy Galvis-Ovallos  2 , Elisangela de Souza Neves  3 , Fabiano O Silva  4 , S Theodore Chester  5 , Becky Fankhauser  5
Affiliations

Repellent efficacy of a new combination of fipronil and permethrin against Lutzomyia longipalpis

André Antonio Cutolo et al. Parasit Vectors. .

Abstract

Background: Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of Leishmania infantum, the agent of canine and human visceral leishmaniosis in the Americas. Considering that the dog is the main domestic host of the parasite, repellent treatment is a measure that might contribute to the prevention of canine visceral leishmaniosis. The repellent efficacy of a single treatment of a new spot-on topical combination of fipronil and permethrin (Frontline Tri-Act®, Merial, now part of Boehringer-Ingelheim) to repel Lu. longipalpis sand flies was evaluated.

Methods: Sixteen healthy Beagle dogs, eight females and eight males, weighing 8.4-14.4 kg, and 2 to 4 years-old were included in the study. Animals were blocked on decreasing body weight and randomly allocated within the blocks to one of two treatment groups of eight animals each. Dogs in Group 1 were untreated and Dogs in Group 2 were treated with a combination containing 67.6 mg/ml fipronil + 504.8 mg/ml permethrin (Frontline Tri-Act®) once on Day 0. Sand fly exposures were performed on Days 1, 14, 21 and 30 with Lu. longipalpis female sand flies. After 65 (± 15 min), sand flies were assessed for engorgement status.

Results: The percent repellency of the treated group compared to the untreated control group was 95.7, 94.3, 81.7 and 72.2% for exposure days 1, 14, 21 and 30, respectively. The two treatment groups were significantly different for all exposure days (P ≤ 0.016 for days 1, 14, 21 and 30). No adverse reactions were observed during the study.

Conclusion: A single topical administration of a new combination of fipronil and permethrin demonstrated a significant repellent effect against Lu. longipalpis bites as soon as it was applied on the dogs and its repellent efficacy lasted for 4 weeks with results greater than 80% for 3 weeks. The results suggest that in endemic areas the regular application of the new combination could contribute to protect dogs from Leishmania infection and therefore serve as an additional tool for the prevention of canine visceral leishmaniosis.

Keywords: Fipronil; Leishmaniosis; Lutzomyia longipalpis; Permethrin; Repellent; Sand flies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval

The study was approved by Nowavet Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) with the concurrence of Boehringer Ingelheim.

Competing interests

AAC, FOS and BF are current employees of Boehringer Ingelheim. STC is a former employee of Boehringer Ingelheim.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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