Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Is ParastarPlus flea treatment safe for dogs and humans?
By Case, Katharine M et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2016·Toxicology Department, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Safety Evaluation of ParastarPlus in Dogs and Assessment of Transferable Residue of Fipronil and Cyphenothrin from Dogs to Humans.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Six healthy adult dogs were treated with a flea and tick prevention product called ParastarPlus, which contains fipronil and cyphenothrin. After applying the treatment, the dogs were monitored for any side effects, and the levels of these chemicals were measured in their blood and on gloves used during handling. The dogs did not show any significant side effects, except for some itching at the application site. The study found that the chemical residues were very low and decreased significantly over time, indicating that ParastarPlus is safe for dogs and poses minimal risk to humans.
People also search for: dog flea treatment safety · ParastarPlus side effects · fipronil and cyphenothrin in dogs · dog itching after flea treatment
Abstract
Dogs are easily infested with fleas, ticks, and other ectoparasites serving as vectors for transmitting bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases. Therefore, the use of ectoparasiticides is inevitable and important. The present investigation was undertaken with two specific objectives: one, to evaluate the safety of fipronil and cyphenothrin in dogs after topical application of ParastarPlus, and two, to determine the transferable residue of these insecticides from dogs to humans. Six healthy, adult dogs (medium length hair, weighing between 20.5 and 27.3 kg) received topical application of ParastarPlus (2.68 mL; fipronil, 9.8%, and cyphenothrin, 5.2%) on the back between the shoulder blades. At predetermined intervals, dogs were given a full physical exam, and residues of fipronil and cyphenothrin were determined in dog blood and cotton glove extracts using GC/MS. Fipronil and cyphenothrin peaks eluted at 7.453 and 9.913 min, correspondingly, and the compounds were confirmed based on characteristic ions. At no time was fipronil or cyphenothrin residue detected in blood samples. In glove extracts, residues of fipronil and cyphenothrin were maximally present at 24-h posttreatment (43.84 ± 5.69 and 59.26 ± 8.97 ppm, respectively). By 48 h, the residue levels sharply declined (16.89 ± 2.82 and 17.98 ± 2.07 ppm, respectively). The insecticides' residues were detected in insignificant amounts after 1 week (5.69 ± 2.16 and 10.00 ± 1.51 ppm, respectively), and only in trace amounts after 2 weeks. At no time did any dog show side effects, except itching at the site of ParastarPlus application. The findings suggest that ParastarPlus was safe for dogs, and transferable residues of fipronil and cyphenothrin were minimal, posing very little or no health concern to pet owners or veterinary personnel. Of course, veterinary personnel, who handle many dogs daily, may require proper protection to avoid cumulative exposure.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27747219/