SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF GENERALIZED DEMODICOSIS IN RED-HANDED TAMARINS ( SAGUINUS MIDAS ) USING A SINGLE ADMINISTRATION OF ORAL FLURALANER

A new species of Demodex (Acari: Demodecidae) from the skin of golden-handed tamarins, Saguinus midas (Primates: Cebidae)

Two captive-bred golden-handed tamarins, Saguinus midas L., 1758 (Primates: Cebidae), kept in households in Japan, presented with psoriasis-like plaques on their faces, along with scale, alopecia, and itching. Histopathological examination revealed numerous Demodex mites in the hair follicles, and the clinical symptoms in both cases improved after treatment with fluralaner. Based on the morphological and genetic characteristics of the mites collected from tamarins, we describe a new species of Demodex. This new species is the fifth valid Demodex species recorded from primates.

Long-term follow-up of a single dose of fluralaner in nine dogs with demodicosis

BACKGROUND

Long-term follow-up of oral fluralaner for canine demodicosis has not been demonstrated.

OBJECTIVES

A multicentre prospective open trial for the efficacy of oral fluralaner for the long-term (>12 month) management of canine demodicosis.

ANIMALS

Client-owned dogs diagnosed with demodicosis at nine veterinary clinics.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A single fluralaner dose was administered orally. Although shampoo was allowed to treat secondary pyoderma, no other medication or shampoo was allowed, except for medication for possible underlying disorders. Each dog underwent a thorough parasitological and dermatological assessment monthly for three months and was followed up for >12 months.

RESULTS

Twenty-six dogs were enrolled. Their ages ranged from three months to 16 years. The cases were nine juvenile and 17 adult onsets; and 18 generalised and eight localised forms. Fluralaner administration resulted in 100% eradication of mites and complete resolution of all skin lesions at three months. Seventeen dogs were excluded from the one year follow-up evaluation as they had required a second dose of isoxazoline or died from causes unrelated to the fluralaner treatment. In the remaining nine cases, no relapse was observed in any of the dogs (six adult and three juvenile onsets; six generalised and three localised forms). Four dogs were monitored for over one year, one dog for over two years, and four dogs for three years.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The results indicated that a single dose of fluralaner could effectively deliver a long-term cure when combined with managing underling conditions.

Lethal and sublethal effects of fluralaner on the two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

BACKGROUND

Two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch is a serious agricultural pest and has developed high levels of resistance to many acaricides. Hence, screening new acaricides is important in the control of TSSM. Fluralaner, a novel isoxazoline, has high activity against agricultural and ectoparasitic pests; however, little information is available about its effects on agricultural mites. Lethal and sublethal effects of fluralaner towards TSSM eggs and female adults were therefore evaluated in this study.

RESULTS

Fluralaner exhibited higher activity towards TSSM female adults (LC₅₀ , 0.49 mg L^-1 ) compared with commercial acaricides including fenpyroximate, pyridaben and hexythiazox, and also excellent activity towards eggs (LC₅₀ , 0.36 mg L^-1 ). The results of a sublethal effect study showed a significant reduction in the duration and fecundity of female adults with increases in the tested concentrations. The net reproductive rate (R₀ ) decreased to 67.34 ± 3.96 and 50.29 ± 3.40 offspring per individual in LC₁₀ and LC₃₀ treatments compared with control (108.31 ± 7.61 offspring per individual). The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) in the controls (0.30 and 1.36 d^-1 ) were significantly higher than in the LC₃₀ treatment (0.25 and 1.29 d^-1 ); whereas, they were almost identical to values for the LC₁₀ treatment. No change in mean generation time (T) was observed at sublethal concentrations treatments.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that fluralaner has high acaricidal activity and could be considered a potential acaricide for TSSM management. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.