Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Preventing Bartonella henselae spread by cat fleas with monthly flea
By Bradbury, Christina A & Lappin, Michael R·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2010·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of topical application of 10% imidacloprid-1% moxidectin to prevent Bartonella henselae transmission from cat fleas.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats was tested to see if a monthly topical treatment of 10% imidacloprid and 1% moxidectin could prevent the transmission of a bacteria called Bartonella henselae from fleas. The study found that while all untreated cats became infected after being exposed to fleas, none of the cats that received the treatment showed signs of infection. This suggests that using this flea control product regularly can help protect cats from fleas and reduce the risk of humans getting sick from the bacteria.
People also search for: cat flea treatment · prevent cat flea transmission · Bartonella henselae in cats · imidacloprid moxidectin for cats
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether monthly topical administration of a combination of 10% imidacloprid and 1% moxidectin would lessen flea (Ctenocephalides felis) transmission of Bartonella henselae among cats. DESIGN: Controlled trial. ANIMALS: 18 specific pathogen-free cats housed in 3 groups of 6. PROCEDURES: 3 enclosures were separated by mesh to allow fleas to pass among groups yet prevent cats from contacting one another. One group was inoculated IV with B henselae, and after infection was confirmed, the cats were housed in the middle enclosure. This infected group was flanked by a group that was treated topically with 10% imidacloprid-1% moxidectin monthly for 3 months and by an untreated group. On days 0, 15, 28, and 42, 100 fleas/cat were placed on each of the 6 cats in the B henselae-infected group. Blood samples were collected from all cats weekly for detection of Bartonella spp via PCR assay, bacterial culture, and serologic assay. RESULTS: B henselae infection was confirmed in the cats infected IV and in all untreated cats after flea exposure; none of the cats treated with the imidacloprid-moxidectin combination became infected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In this setting, monthly topical administration of 10% imidacloprid-1% moxidectin reduced flea infestation, compared with infestation in untreated cats, and thus prevented flea transmission of B henselae to treated cats. Regular monthly use of this flea control product in cats may lessen the likelihood of humans acquiring B henselae infection.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20392182/