Immediate and long-term efficacy of Felpreva®, a new spot-on formulation containing tigolaner, emodepside and praziquantel, applied as a single application to cats artificially infested with the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis

Abstract

Five studies (two dose determination, two dose confirmation, and one speed of flea kill study) were conducted to assess the immediate (therapeutic) efficacy and long-term persistent (preventive) efficacy of a single spot-on application containing the novel acaricide and insecticide tigolaner in combination with emodepside and praziquantel (Felpreva®, Vetoquinol S.A. Lure, France) applied to cats artificially infested with Ctenocephalides felis. Eight cats per group were randomly allocated to 0, 1×, 1.3× and 2× of the minimum dose (14.5 ​mg/kg body weight) of tigolaner (dose determination studies) or randomly allocated to 0 and 1× of the dosage (dose confirmation studies). Onset of efficacy was assessed in a speed of flea kill study on an existing flea infestation 8, 12 and 24 ​h after treatment and reassessed after monthly flea reinfestation until 13 weeks post-treatment. Efficacy was calculated according to the Abbott formula using arithmetic means. Efficacy was claimed when (i) control groups were adequately infested (flea retention ≥ 50%) at each time-point in the studies; (ii) flea counts in treated groups were significantly lower (P ​≤ ​0.05) than flea counts in control groups; and (iii) calculated efficacy was ≥ 90% (speed of flea kill study) and ≥ 95% (dose determination and dose confirmation studies). Tigolaner at 14.5 ​mg/kg body weight was 100% effective against fleas on Day 1 (immediate, therapeutic efficacy) in both, dose determination and dose confirmation studies. The long-term persistent efficacy in week 13 ranged between 96.3% and 100%. Fleas were rapidly killed within 12 ​h after treatment (100% flea reduction, immediate efficacy). New flea infestations were successfully prevented for 8 weeks (98.9–100% flea reduction) within 8 ​h after reinfestation, and at week 13 (96.3% flea reduction) within 24 ​h after reinfestation.