The efficacy of a novel topical combination formulation of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel against naturally acquired intestinal nematode and cestode infections in cats was evaluated in seven negative control, blinded studies. Cats were selected based on a pre-treatment faecal examination indicating a patent infection with at least hookworms (two studies), Toxocara ascarids (one study), taeniid cestodes (two studies) or Dipylidium cestodes (two studies). In each study, cats were assigned randomly to blocks of two animals each, based on decreasing pre-treatment body weight and were randomly allocated to one of two groups of six to 12 cats: untreated (control) or treated with topical fipronil (8.3%, w/v), (S)-methoprene (10%, w/v), eprinomectin (0.4%, w/v) and praziquantel (8.3%, w/v) (BROADLINE®, Merial) at 0.12mL/kg body weight (providing a minimum of 10mg fipronil+12mg S-methoprene+0.5mg eprinomectin+10mg praziquantel per kg body weight). The topical treatment was administered directly on the skin in the midline of the neck in a single spot once on Day 0. For parasite recovery and count, cats were euthanized humanely and necropsied seven or ten days after treatment. A single treatment with the novel topical combination product provided 91% efficacy against Ancylostoma braziliense, ≥99% efficacy against Ancylostoma tubaeforme, and >97% efficacy against Toxocara cati. Similarly, excellent efficacy was established against Taenia taeniaeformis, Dipylidium caninum and Diplopylidium spp. as demonstrated by >97% and up to 100% reductions of cestode counts in the treated cats when compared to the untreated controls (P<0.01). All cats accepted the treatment well based on health observations post-treatment and daily health observations. No adverse experiences or other health problems were observed throughout the studies. The results of this series of controlled studies demonstrated high efficacy and excellent acceptability of the novel topical combination formulation of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel against a broad range of feline intestinal nematode and cestode infections.

The acaricidal efficacy of the novel topical combination of fipronil/amitraz/(S)-methoprene (CERTIFECT®) was evaluated against Sarcoptes scabiei var canis when administrated as topical solution to dogs naturally infested with the mites. A total of 24 mixed-breed dogs of both sexes (10 males and 14 females), aged from 0.3 to 5 years and weighing 3.2 to 20.2 kg, were studied in this single-center, randomized, blinded, and controlled trial. Dogs, naturally infested with Sarcoptes scabiei var canis as confirmed by skin scrapings collected prior to allocation, were randomly divided into two equal groups. Dogs in Group 1 were not treated. Dogs in Group 2 were treated on Days 0 and 28. At Days 0 (pretreatment), 7, 14, 21, 28 (before second treatment), 41, and 56, four skin scrapings of similar size were taken from different sites with lesions consistent with sarcoptic mange. Lesion scores were assigned weekly at Day 0 (pretreatment), 7, 14, 21, 28 (before second treatment), 35, 42, and 56, and silhouettes identifying the location of the present lesions were completed. The results showed that dogs treated with CERTIFECT® had significantly (p<0.05) Effectiveness of Two Topical Treatments With a Combination Fipronil/Amitraz/(S)-methoprene Against Natural Infestations of Mites (Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis) on Dogs.

OBJECTIVE:To compare efficacy and safety of paste formulations of firocoxib and phenylbutazone in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis.DESIGN:Randomized controlled clinical trial.ANIMALS:253 client-owned horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis.PROCEDURES:Horses were treated with firocoxib (0.1 mg/kg [0.045 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) or phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg [2 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) for 14 days. Physical examinations and lameness evaluations were performed prior to treatment and after 7 and 14 days. Clinical improvement was defined as a reduction of at least 1 lameness grade or a combined reduction of at least 3 points in scores for pain during manipulation or palpation, joint swelling, joint circumference, and range of motion.RESULTS:Proportion of horses clinically improved on day 14 for the firocoxib group (104/123 [84.6%]) was not significantly different from the proportion for the phenylbutazone group (103/119 [86.6%]). Proportion of horses that were improved on day 14 was significantly greater for horses treated with firocoxib than for horses treated with phenylbutazone with regard to score for pain on manipulation or palpation (P = 0.028), joint circumference score (P = 0.026), and range of motion score (P = 0.012), but not for overall lameness score or joint swelling score. No direct treatment-related adverse effects were detected during the study.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Results suggested that overall clinical efficacy of a paste formulation of firocoxib in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis was comparable to efficacy of a paste formulation of phenylbutazone.

A total of 249 client-owned dogs with osteoarthritis were treated with firocoxib (5 mg/kg/day) or a positive control, etodolac (10-15 mg/kg/day), for 30 days. Veterinary examinations were performed on approximately days 0 (visit 1), 14 (visit 2), and 29 (visit 3). Based on defined noninferiority criteria, firocoxib and etodolac were comparable. Based on the magnitude of the change from baseline, improvement with firocoxib was significantly greater than with etodolac for lameness at a trot (visits 2 and 3) and for lameness at a walk, pain on manipulation, and range of motion (visit 3) (P < .05). In weekly owner evaluations, firocoxib provided significantly greater improvement than etodolac (P < .05) at each scoring.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with 10 per cent fipronil solution for controlling signs of flea allergic dermatitis in dogs under field conditions. Thirty-one client-owned dogs with flea allergic dermatitis were treated with three monthly applications of 10 per cent fipronil solution. Flea counts and pruritus were significantly reduced at all post-treatment visits. At the final visit, on day 90, flea counts were reduced by 98 per cent, and pruritus was reduced or eliminated in 84 per cent of the study dogs. Dermatological lesion scores for erythema, crusts, scales and papules were also significantly improved by the final visit. The overall assessment of efficacy on day 90 was 'excellent' to 'good' for 87 per cent of the study dogs. The results demonstrate that treatment with monthly topical applications of 10 per cent fipronil solution is effective in reducing the prevalence and severity of signs of flea allergic dermatitis in dogs.

OBJECTIVE:To determine whether topical application of a 10% fipronil solution would control signs of flea allergic dermatitis in cats housed under natural conditions.DESIGN:Multicenter open clinical trial.ANIMALS:42 client-owned cats with flea allergic dermatitis.PROCEDURES:Study cats along with all other cats and dogs living in the same houses were treated with 10% fipronil solution topically on days 0, 30, and 60. Flea counts and clinical assessments were performed on study cats on days 0, 14, 30, 60, and 90.RESULTS:Percentage reductions in geometric mean flea counts on days 14, 30, 60, and 90, compared with day-0 geometric mean count, were 75, 73, 85, and 94%, respectively. Pruritus score was significantly improved at each examination after day 0, and pruritus was reduced or eliminated in 31 of 40 (78%) cats at the final examination. Similarly, scores for severity of miliary dermatitis and alopecia were significantly improved at each examination, except for alopecia score on day 14. Overall treatment efficacy, assessed on day 90, was excellent for 28 (70%) cats, good for 6 (15%), moderate for 3 (7.5%), and poor for 3 (7.5%).CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Results suggest that monthly topical application of fipronil is effective for treatment of flea allergic dermatitis in cats housed under natural conditions.