Comparative speed of efficacy against Ctenocephalides felis of two oral treatments for dogs containing either afoxolaner or fluralaner

A study was designed to compare the efficacy of NexGard^® and Bravecto™, 2 recently introduced oral ectoparasiticides containing isoxazolines, against fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) on dogs. Twenty-four healthy dogs, weighing 9.2 kg to 28.6 kg, were included in this parallel group design, randomized, and controlled efficacy study. On Day −1, the 24 dogs were allocated to 3 study groups: untreated control; Nexgard^® treated and Bravecto™ treated. The treatments were administered on Days 0, 28 and 56 for Nexgard^® (labelled for monthly administration), and once on Day 0 for Bravecto™ (labelled for a 12 week use). Flea infestations were performed weekly with 100 adult unfed C. felis on each dog from Days 42 to 84. Fleas were counted and re-applied at 6 and 12 h post-infestation and removed and counted 24 h post-infestation. The arithmetic mean flea count for the untreated group ranged from 62.9 to 77.6 at 24 h post-infestation, indicating vigorous flea challenges on all assessment days. Both the Nexgard^® and Bravecto™ treated groups had statistically significantly (p < 0.05) less fleas compared to the untreated group on all assessment time points and days. Significantly fewer fleas were recorded for NexGard^® treated dogs compared to Bravecto™ treated dogs at 6 h post-infestation on Day 56, 63, 70, 77 and 84 and at 12 h post-infestation on Days 70 and 84. No statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences were recorded between the treated groups at 24 h post-infestation. Efficacies recorded 6 h post-infestation for Nexgard^® ranged from 62.8% (Day 49) to 97.3% (Day 56), and efficacies ranged from 94.1% (Day 49) to 100% (Days 42, 56, 70 and 84) at 12 h post-infestation. Efficacies recorded for Bravecto™ ranged from 45.1% (Day 84) to 97.8% (Day 42) at 6 h post-infestation, and from 64.7% (Day 84) to 100% (Days 42 and 56) at 12 h post-infestation. Efficacies observed at 24 h were 100% for both products during the study except 99.6% on Day 84 for Bravecto™.     

Bartonella washoensis infection in red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) and their ectoparasites in Lithuania

This is the first study to investigate the presence of Bartonella infections in different internal organs of red squirrels and their ectoparasites in Lithuania. A total of 39 roadkill red squirrels were collected. Squirrels were infested with Ixodes ricinus ticks (191) and Ceratophyllus sciurorum fleas (36). The presence of Bartonella spp. was screened using 16 S–23 S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region and bacteria were detected in 38.5 % (15/39) samples of squirrels, 1.0 % (2/191) samples of ticks and 55.5 % (20/36) samples of fleas. The infection rate of different internal organs of squirrels varied from 11.1%–47.4%. The 16 S–23 S rRNA ITS region sequences showed that Bartonella washoensis were detected in squirrels and their ectoparasites. The results from this study support the hypothesis that S. vulgaris and their fleas, C.sciurorum, serve as a major reservoir and a vector, respectively, of zoonotic B. washoensis in Lithuania.     

Flea Control: An Overview of Treatment Concepts for North America

Résumé— L'approche d'un contrôle anti puces souligne Pimportance de la communication entre le vétérinaire et le propriétaire d'un animal de compagnie, communication qui implique la connaissance de chaque cas de figure individuel. Une revue des antiparasitaires usuels est brièvement présentée incluant les principes actifs et leur classification. Les concepts de mise en place d'un programme de contrôle anti puces qui sont présentés incluent aussi bien les aspects de contrôle des puces à l'intérieur des habitations et dans le milieu exérieur, que les produits et méthodes utilisées pour traiter l'animal. Les produits les plus récents utilisés dans la lutte antipuces sont présentés, comme les régulateurs de croissance des insectes, les inhibiteurs de croissance des insectes, les traitements utilisant des nématodes, et les composés à base de borate. [MacDon-ald, J. M. Flea control: an overview of treatment concepts for North America (Contrôle antipuces: revue des concepts de traitement en Amérique du Nord). Resumen— El enfoque al control de pulgas pone de manifiesto la importancia de la interrelación entre el veterinario y el propietario del animal, siendo necesario un conocimiento de las condiciones especiales en casos individuales. Se presenta una breve revisión de los parasiticidas más comunes, con un listado de los compuestos activos y su clasificación. Se presentan los principios para el diseño de un programa de control de pulgas, incluyendo el control dentro y fuera de la vivienda, asi como productos y métodos para tratar el animal. Se revisan los productos más recientes utilizados para el control de pulgas como reguladores del crecimiento de insectos, reguladores del desarrollo de insectos, tratamiento de nemátodos y compuestos de borato. [MacDonald, J. M. Flea control: an overview of treatment concepts for North America (Control de pulgas: un repaso a los principios sobre tratamiento en Norte-América). Abstract— The approach to flea control emphasizes the importance of interrelationships between veterinarian and pet owner requiring knowledge of the unique environment of individual cases. A review of common parasiticides is briefly presented listing active ingredients and their classification. Concepts of developing a flea control program are presented that include aspects of inside and outside flea control as well as products and methods used to treat the pet. Newer products used in flea control are reviewed including insect growth regulators, insect development inhibitors, nematode treatment and borate compounds.     

Diversity of Bartonella species detected in arthropod vectors from animals in Australia

A variety of Bartonella species were detected in two species of ticks and three species of fleas collected from marsupial hosts; brush-tailed bettong or woylie (Bettongia penicillata) and western barred bandicoots (Perameles bougainville) and from a rodent host; Rattus fuscipes in Western Australia. Bartonella species were detected using nested-PCR of the gltA gene and the 16S–23S ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), and species were characterized using DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA, gltA, rpoB, ftsZ genes and the ITS region. Bartonella rattaustraliani and B. coopersplainsensis were detected in Ixodes spp. ticks and fleas (Stephanocircus pectinipes) respectively collected from rodents. Two novel Bartonella species were detected from marsupials; Candidatus Bartonella woyliei n. sp. was detected in both fleas (Pygiopsylla hilli) and ticks (Ixodes australiensis) collected from woylies and Candidatus Bartonella bandicootii n. sp. was detected in fleas (Pygiopsylla tunneyi) collected from western barred bandicoots. Concatenated phylogenetic analysis of all 5 loci clarified the marsupial cluster of Bartonella species in Australia and confirmed the species status of these two Bartonella species in ticks and fleas from woylies and western barred bandicoots, which are classified as threatened species and are vulnerable to extinction.     

Effects of Prednisone on Dermal Responses in Flea-Allergen Hypersensitized Dogs

Abstract— Ten female flea-naïve beagles were hypersensitized to flea allergen by controlled exposure to unfed adult fleas and intradermal allergen testing over a 16 week period. All 10 dogs demonstrated a delayed dermal response while nine had an immediate response in skin tests. The development of a positive skin response was associated with an increase in flea antigen-specific IgE levels. The efficacy of prednisone in inhibiting dermal hyperreactivity to flea allergen in the hypersensitized dogs was determined in a blinded placebo-controlled study. Five dogs received 0.55 mg × kg^-1 prednisone orally, twice daily, for 5.5 days while five received placebo. Prednisone therapy resulted in a significant, if limited, reduction in both the immediate and delayed skin hyperreactivity. These findings support the use of this model to evaluate therapeutic candidates for flea allergic dermatitis. Résumé— Dix chiennes Beagle n'ayant jamais été en contact avec des puces ont été sensibilisées à l'allergène puce par des expositions controlées à des puces à jeun et testées par des intradermoréactions pendant six semaines. Les dix animaux ont présenté une réponse intradermique retardée et neuf une réponse immédiate L'apparition d'intradermoréactions positive était associée à une augmentation des taux d'lgE spécifiques de la puce. L'efficacité de la prednisone sur l'inhibition de l'hyperréactivité dermique à des extraits de puce chez ces animaux allergiques a étéétudiée en double aveugle contre placebo. Cinq chien ont reçu 0,55 mg.kg^-1 de prednisone per os deux fois par jour pendant 5,5 jours, alors que le placebo était administré aux cinq restants. L'administration de prednisone a entrainé une réduction significative, bien que limitée, de la réaction dermique à l'injection d'extraits de puce tant immédiate que retardée. Ces observations font de ce modèle un bon candidat pour des études de traitement de la dermatite par allergie aux piqûres de puce. Zusammenfassung— Zehn weibliche, Floh-naive Beagle wurden gegenüber Flohallergen hypersensibilisiert, indem sie kontrolliert hungrigen adulten Flohen und intradermalen Allgerietests über eine Zeit von sechzehn Wochen ausgesetzt wurden. Alle Hunde zeigten eine verzögerte Hautreaktion während neun Tiere bei den Hauttests eine sofortige Reaktion hatten. Die Entwicklung einer positiven Hautreaktion war mit einem Anstieg von Floh-spezifischen IgE-Spiegeln verbunden. Die Wirksamkeit von Prednison, die dermale überempfindlichkeit auf Flohallergen bei den hypersensibilisierten Hunden zu verhindern, wurde in einer Plazebo-kontrollierten Doppelblindstudie bestimmt. Fünf Hunde erhielten 0.55 mg.kt^-1 Prednison 2x täglich p.o. über fünfeinhalb Tage während die anderen fünf Hunde ein Plazebo erhielten. Die Prednisontherapie ergab eine signifikante, wenn auch begrenzte Reduktion sowohl bei der Sofortals auch bei der Spätreaktion der Haut. Diese Befunde unterstützen den Einsatz dieses Modells bei der Auswertung von Therapiekandidaten für allergischer Flohdermatitis. Resumen Diez perras la raza Beagle las cuales no habían entrado en contacto con pulgas previamente, fueron hipersensibilizadas con antígeno de pulga por medio de una exposición controlada con el parásito en ayuno y también con el antígeno intradérmico, durante un periodo de dieciseis semanas. Todos los perros demonstraron una respuesta dérmica tardía, mientras que a nueve, produjo una respuesta inmediata. El desarrollo de una respuesta dérmica positiva se asoció con un incremento de los niveles de antígeno Ig E específico. La eficacia de la supresion de hiperreactividad al antigeno de pulga en los perros hipersensibilizados, se determinó por medio de un estudio placebo de tipo ciego. Cinco de los perros fueron administrados con 0.55 mg.kg^-1 de predisolona oral, dos veces al día, por un periodo de 5.5 días, mientras que los restantes recibieron placebo. La terapia con prednisolona produjo una reducción significativa, pero limitada, en tanto la respuesta inmediata, como en la tardía. Éste hallazgo apoya la teoría del uso de éste modelo para la evaluation de posibles candidatos para le terapia de la dermatitis alérgica a las pulgas.     

Topical formulations of metaflumizone plus amitraz to treat flea and tick infestations on dogs

A topical spot-on solution was developed for treating pets that contained of active ingredients metaflumizone and amitraz and intended for use as an ectoparasiticide. The formulation vehicle system was designed by balancing the following three attributes of various solvents: evaporation/drying, surface spreading, and percutaneous absorption. The solvents were selected by evaluating the solubilization capacity of individual solvents with respect to the above active ingredients. The evaporation rates of various solvent systems were then determined. The visual observations of the treatment sites was also performed a day after treating the dogs to understand the cosmetic effect of various solvent systems. The lead formulations dried off within a day after application with no noticeable residue at the treatment site, while others produced appreciable powdery residue or a large wet and oily spot. The stability of the lead formulations was also evaluated over 2 years to demonstrate a 2-year shelf life of this product.     

Identification of flea species using MALDI-TOF/MS

In the present study, a molecular proteomics (MALDI-TOF/MS) approach was used as a tool for identifying flea vectors. We measured the MS spectra from 38 flea specimens of 5 species including Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis, Archaeopsylla erinacei, Xenopsylla cheopis and Stenoponia tripectinata. A blind test performed with 24 specimens from species included in a library spectral database confirmed that MALDI-TOF/MS is an effective tool for discriminating flea species. Although fresh and 70% ethanol-conserved samples subjected to MALDI-TOF/MS in blind tests were correctly classified, only MS spectra of quality from fresh specimens were sufficient for accurate and significant identification. A cluster analysis highlighted that the MALDI Biotyper can be used for studying the phylogeny of fleas.     

Bartonella,bats and bugs: A review

Ecological, immunological, and epidemiological factors enable bats to transmit an increasingly recognized spectrum of zoonotic agents, and bartonellae are among those emerging pathogens identified in bats and their arthropod ectoparasites. Current data reveal a multifaceted disease ecology where diverse host species distributed around the world interact with a number of Bartonella spp. and several potential vectors. This review summarizes the methods and findings of studies conducted since 2005 to illustrate that Bartonella bacteremia varies by bat species, location, and other potential variables, such as diet with a very high prevalence in hematophagous bats. Among bat families, Bartonella prevalence ranged from 7.3% among Nycteridae to 54.4% in Miniopteridae. Further research can build on these current data to better determine risk factors associated with Bartonella infection in bat populations and the role of their ectoparasites in transmission.     

高原环境蚤饲养新技术及青海特有染疫蚤饲养室的建立

建立"高原环境人工供血蚤饲养"新技术;探索我省特有鼠疫染疫蚤谢氏山蚤、斧形盖蚤等蚤种的生活史特征及其在不同季节、不同温湿度条件下的实验室最适恒定饲养生境指标和方法,建立和纯化蚤实验室种群,掌握蚤批量产出技术,逐步达到批量提供实验用蚤的目的;制定并完善蚤饲养室管理规范及饲养室操作规程;为虫媒传播性疾病的预防控制及相关科研提供试验平台。