Activity of a deltamethrin shampoo against Ctenocephalides felis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus in dogs

A controlled clinical trial was undertaken to assess the efficacy of an app lication of a 0.07% deltamethrin shampoo against fleas and ticks in dogs. T wenty beagles, housed in separate cages, were randomly allocated into two g roups of 10. The dogs were infested with 50 Ctenocephalides felis and 50 Rh ipicephalus sanguineus each, and parasites were counted 24 h (fleas) and 72 h (ticks) later (Day 0). Dogs, when state, were then treated with 25 mi of a shampoo containing 0.07% deltamethrin (Group 1). Dogs in Group 2 were th e controls. Fleas and ticks were counted 24 h (Day 1) and 48 h (Day 2) afte r the shampoo was applied, and the parasites were then removed. All the dog s were reinfested with fleas and ticks on Days 2, 7, 9, 14, 16 and 20. Para sites were counted 24 and 48 h after each reinfestation. Effectiveness agai nst fleas was calculated 24 h after infestation, and against ticks 48 h aft er infestation. This study showed that the application of 25 mi of shampoo containing 0.07% deltamethrin to beagle dogs weighing between 10.2 and 12 k g was very well tolerated. It controlled the parasites present on the anima ls at the time of application: with an efficacy of 100% against fleas 24 h after treatment and an efficacy of 95% against ticks 48 h after treatment. The treatment protected against flea reinfestations with an efficacy of 100 % during the first week, >98% in the second week and >95% in the third week . It also gave greater than or equal to 99% protection against tick reinfes tations in the first week and >96% in the second week. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.