FLEA CONTROL PRODUCTS AND THEIR MECHANISMS

Good day colleagues and friends, today we will talk about about some of the most important chemical products that we can use and prescribe for flea control and elimination.

1. Selamectine: this one contains Avermectins and derivatives (a group of macrocyclic lactones produced by soil bacterium Streptomyces avermitilisand derivatives). It can be topic applied, it hits all stages, especially larvae, and even eggs. Its efficiency is over 90%, residual protection for over 20 days. And the way it works is that it opens of chloride channels in muscle membranes of arthropods.

2. Fipronil (Front-Line): it contains phenylpyrazole insecticide. It can also be topic applied as a spot-on. It hits adult and off-host stages. This one it's very cool because it's efficiency is over 90%, residual protection for ~90 days. The way it works is by blocking (GABA)-gated chloride channels in central nervous system, paralyzing the fleas and ticks so eventually they will release the skin of the animal and fall and die.

3. Imidacloprid (Advantage): it's chemistry is pretty basic, it contains chloronicotinyl insecticide, and it is also topical. It also hits adult and off-host stages. It's efficiency goes by 90%, residual protection for ~20-40 days. It's mechanism it's a little more complex, because it competitive inhibits at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of the nervous system, which may take a little while to work, but it does work!

4. Nitenpyram: this one it's similar to imidacloprid, it contains chloronicotinyl insecticide but this one goes by mouth, and it only affects the adult stages. However this is one within 8 hours, 100% of fleas are killed, remain active in the blood for 48 hours. It's mechanism is the sae as the Imidacloprid, but because it goes systemic it acts faster.

5. Pyrethroids: this one is similar to pyrethrins, natural compounds produced by the flowers ofChrysanthemum spp. It goes topical, it only hits adult stages. it is more than 90% effective  in number of cat fleas for 28 days. This one opens the sodium channels in the nervous system.

6. Pyriproxyfen: it goes topical, it hits larval and eggs stages, it has a significant reduction in flea numbers and almost 100% elimination over the period of six months. It releases juvenile-hormone analog (JHA), so the flea grows backwards and eventually can no longer live.

7. Lufenuron: it can be administered orally or by injections, it hits larval and eggs stages. We can observe a 90% decrease in number of adult fleas emerging from eggs for ~200 days after treatment. This one is an insect-growth regulator (IGR), which inhibits chitin synthesis.

8. Methoprene: because this one goes always as a flea collar, it's not very recommended, especially in kittens, because the kitten may bite it, chew it, or even worse eat it, so it may be toxic for them. It is somewhat effective because it hits larval and eggs stages and lasts for 4 to 6 months on a dog and up to a year on cats. 

9. Bravecto: it's main ingredient is Fluralaner, it goes topical, it affects all stages from egg to adult. It is over 95% effective and its effect last over 12 weeks. These compounds have activity against γ-aminobutyric acid- (GABA-) and glutamate-gated chloride channels with significant selectivity for insect neurons over mammalian neurons. This product is very effective, however, we as Veterinarians must be careful when prescribing it to cats, cats under the age of 6 months most not use this product due to high rates on neurological side effects.

Hopefully this post may be helpful and if you can also recommend any other your comments are welcomed!

MVZ Carolina Pruneda