Efficacy of a topical combination of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel (Broadline(®)) against naturally acquired infections with cestodes of the genus Joyeuxiella in cats.

Abstract

Cats are host to dipylidiid cestodes of the genera Diplopylidium, Dipylidium and Joyeuxiella. Broadline(&#xae;), a topical broad-spectrum combination parasiticide containing fipronil (8.3&#xa0;% w/v), (S)-methoprene (10&#xa0;% w/v), eprinomectin (0.4&#xa0;% w/v) and the cestocide praziquantel (8.3&#xa0;% w/v), has previously been shown to be efficacious against Dipylidium caninum and Diplopylidium spp. in cats. To evaluate its efficacy against Joyeuxiella species, a blinded clinical efficacy study was conducted according to GCP. All cats had evidence for naturally acquired dipylidiid cestode infection as confirmed by pre-treatment examination. Cats were allocated randomly to two groups of 13 cats each based on bodyweight: Control (untreated) and Broadline(&#xae;) at 0.12&#xa0;mL/kg bodyweight administered once topically. Based on the comparison of helminth counts in the treated and untreated cats seven days post treatment, Broadline(&#xae;) demonstrated >99&#xa0;% efficacy (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.01) against mature J. fuhrmanni and J. pasqualei, with 11 and 13 of the untreated cats harbouring 1 to 102 or 2 to 95 cestodes, respectively. In addition, parasite counts indicated 95.9&#xa0;% efficacy (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.006) against the rictularoid nematode Pterygodermatites cahirensis.