Milano – Repelling ectoparasiticides provide best protection against parasite-transmitted infectious diseases. The efficacy of advantix^® (10% imidacloprid/50% permethrin) preventing canine leishmaniosis, has been proven in the so far largest GCP-controlled field trial conducted in Veterinary Medicine to prevent dogs from vector-borne diseases. Prof. Dr. Domenico Otranto from the University of Bari, Italy, the leading investigator, stated at a Bayer press conference in Milano: “Through a monthly or biweekly treatment with the repelling anti-parasite agent, that prevents dogs from sand fly bites, we achieved a leishmaniosis protection rate between 89% and 100%.”

Due to its warm climate, the Mediterranean is afflicted with parasite-transmittes infectious diseases (canine vector-borne diseases, CVBD) especially. Apart from sand flies and mosquitoes, ticks have been proven to be the most dangerous transmitters of infectious diseases. Climate change as well as a higher mobility of humans and their dogs have enabled parasites to spread further throughout northern regions.

This accounts for babesiosis for instance, where the causative pathogen Babesia canis infects the erythrocytes of dogs. The disease is transmitted by the Ornate cow tick Dermacentor reticulatus. Originally endemic in e.g. the South of France, the disease, through the spreading of its transmitter, can now be found in almost all of France. Prof. Dr. Patrick Bourdeau, from the National Veterinary School of Nantes in France, and member of the CVBD World Forum, says: “Canine babesiosis is by far the most frequent canine vector-borne disease in France. According to estimation of vet clinics, 150,000 dogs suffer from babesiosis.”

Even canine leishmaniosis, transmitted by the sand fly, has already extended its settlement area beyond the Mediterranean region; whereas a substantially high risk of infection remains present in the Mediterranean. CVBD World Forum member Dr. Xavier Roura from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain reported on dog populations in his country with a Leishmaniosis prevalence of up to 67%. According to Dr. Roura the zoonotic potential of the disease displays an important aspect: ”As for many other CVBD infections, the dog represents the primary peridomestic reservoir host. The danger of a Leishmania transmission to humans increases with a higher prevalence of the pathogen in cohabitating dogs.”

Both experts of the CVBD World Forum underline the outstanding impact of vector control via repelling agents. Prof. Bourdeau explains: “The objective of anti-parasite-treatment is mainly to prevent the transmission by selecting products that may have contact repellency, knock down or antifeeding effects.”

The success of the concept being put into practice was proven by Prof. Dr. Domenico Otranto’s field trial study in an endemic area in Southern Italy. The negative-controlled, partially blinded GCP-study was conducted on 631 dogs living in two kennels of Bari and Ginosa. Dogs were allocated to one of three groups, either treated every two weeks or every four weeks with the spot-on product advantix^® during the sand fly season (March till November 2005), or remained untreated as a control group. Leishmania infantum infection was analysed before and after the sand fly season (March and November 2005) and again in March 2006 using serological and parasitological examinations.

In the untreated groups, incidence rates per year of 9.1% (9 out of 109 dogs, Bari) resp. 10.1% (11 out of 109 dogs, Ginosa) were observed during the sand fly season. In contrast, dogs treated with both applications displayed a very high protection rate from Leishmania infection. For monthly treatment, only one infected animal out of each group of 104 resp. 105 dogs was observed (protection rate of 88.9% in Bari resp. 90.4% in Ginosa); in the case of the bi-weekly application, 1 animal was infected in the Ginosa group of 103 dogs (90.7% protection rate), and no infected dog was observed in Bari (100% protection). Prof. Otranto pointed out, that “preventing sand fly bites is a priority to reduce the risk of canine and human leishmaniasis in areas where the disease is endemic. This study showed that the spot-on product advantix^® is highly efficacious in preventing canine leishmaniasis by virtue of its repellent activity against sand flies.” He recommends that all dog owners treat their animals with this spot-on product every four weeks, as it not only repels sand flies but also works against flees, ticks, stable flies and mosquitoes.

According to Dr. Norbert Mencke, Global Director Veterinary Services at Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health Division, studies like the field trial “will help us to get the best possible understanding of the ectoparasite-pathogen-host-interaction and its inhibition. Bayer Animal Health will continue to provide cutting-edge knowledge about vector-borne diseases like canine leishmaniosis to veterinary practitioners, and thus pet owners.”

About the CVBD World Forum:

The CVBD World Forum is an independent working group of leading experts in natural sciences, veterinary and human medicine from Europe, the USA and Australasia. It has been founded during the 1st International CVBD Symposium in April 2006 in Billesley, UK, as a consequence of the increasing global threats through canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD). The main goal of the CVBD World Forum is to exchange knowledge and findings about ectoparasite-pathogen-host interaction as well as about pathogens’ and vectors’ distribution in order to increase awareness for the specific regional risks of CVBD and to foster preventative measures. This work is supported by Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health Division. For further information, please visit www.cvbd.org.

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