Fleas Flashcards
Why is environmental treatment for fleas especially important?
flea larvae or positive geotactic and negative phototactic –> move away from light and deep into carpet fibers
- environment will house larvae and eggs, so both stages need to be targeted
What are flea cacoons like?
silken for camoflauge
- induced to hatch in response to vibrations, CO2, and light
- can remain inside until environment is perfect
What flea treatment is contraindicated in cats?
organophosphates and pyrethrin
What are the 4 kinds of detrimental effects caused by flea infestations?
- mechanical irritation
- anemia - common in young and debilitated animals
- vectors of infectious disease - Diplidium caninum, Yersinia pestis, Bartonella, Mycoplasma, Rickettsia felis
- dermatological conditions - flea bite hypersensitivity
Flea infestation:
on 3rd rinse of shampoo –> blood from animal affected
How are flea infestations typically diagnosed?
direct observation
- flea comb
- flea excrement (dirt)
Flea infestation, cat:
flea bite allergy - reaction patterns of crusts and papules (miliary dermatitis)
What causes flea bite allergies? What are the 4 mechanisms?
flea injects salivary proteins (haptens) during feeding, which can act as an allergen on its own or combine with dermal collagen to form an antigen, resulting in SEVERE allergic reactions
- Type I hypersensitivity - IgE
- Type IV hypersensitivity - T-cells
- cutaneous basophilic hypersensitivity
- late-phase reactions
What is characteristic of flea bite allergies? What physical findings are seen in dogs and cats?
severe pruritis +/- fleas observed
- DOGS = dorsal lumbar area, caudal aspect of rear legs, ventrum affected
- CATS = same places as dogs +/- reaction patterns of miliary or eosinophilic dermatitis
Flea bite allergy:
- alopecia
- characteristic caudal rear legs + ventrum affected
Flea bite allergy, dog:
What are 4 ways that flea bite allergies are diagnosed?
- characteristic features and distribution of lesions
- fleas or flea dirt observed
- intradermal skin testing - only detects Type I hypersensitivities
- response to flea control
What are 3 parts to the treatment of flea bite allergies?
- flea control - prevent the bite, may need to double up on treatments with different MoA
- glucocorticoids - anti-inflammatory doses, treat for 3-4 weeks to allow flea control to be effective
- treat secondary infections
How is flea control done properly?
- control population on the pet AND in the environment
- treat all pets in the household
- minimize toxicity
- use and integrated approach - insecticides on animal, IGR in environment
What are 3 options of inert insecticides that can treat flea infestations?
- silica aerogel
- diatomaceous earth - not recommended, aerosolized
- borates - dessicants, poisonous to fleas if they ingest it
What is commonly added to pyrethrin to make it effective in treating flea infestations?
piperonul butoxide - prevents flea from being able to metabolize pyrethrin
- poor residual option, needs repeated exposure
What are some options of pyrethroids for treating flea infestations? Which is able to be tolerated in cats?
- Permetrin - many topicals, shampoos, rinses, and pour-ons
- Phenothrin - OTC pour-on for dogs
- Cyphenothrin - Parastar, Frontline Tritak
- Flumetrin - Seresto collar
- Deltamethrin - Scalibor collar
Etofenprox - Frontline Triak for cats
What are other botanicals that may be effective against flea infestations?
- Rotenone dip/powder
- citrus extract
What are 3 options for insecticides that are effective against flea infestations?
- chlorinated hydrocarbons - Lindane
- organophosphates - Malthion, Dichlorovos, Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon
- carbamates - Bendiocarb, Carbaryl, Propoxur (common OTC collar, spray, pour-on)
not commonly used much anymore
Delivery of systemic treatments of flea infestations:
How are pour-ons properly placed on patients?
lift up hair on intracapsular area and apply product directly to skin
Topical flea control options:
What flea products have Imidacloprid in it? What are 3 advantages and 2 disadvantages?
Advantage (OTC Advantix has permethrin, do NOT use in cats)
- ADVANTAGES - not systemically absorbed, approves for dogs (>7 weeks) and cats (>8 weeks), effective when wet
- DISADVANTAGES - greasy at application site, ataxia and hypersalivation reported in kittens
What product contains Nitenpyram? What are 3 advantages?
Capstar
- effective against fleas - rapidly kills following oral administration
- labeled for use in dogs and cats >4 weeks and >2 lbs
- ideal for treating fleas in dogs entering hospital or kennel environment
What product contains Dinotefuran? What other medications are included?
Vectra 3D –> NOT available OTC
permethrin and pyriproxifen - cat product does NOT have permethrin
What product contains Fipronil? What are 3 advantages and 2 disadvantages?
Frontline, Parastar
- ADVANTAGES - effective when wet, approved for puppies and kittens >8 weeks, effective against ticks
- DISADVANTAGES - needs to be applied more frequently in flea infestations (q 2-3 weeks), toxic to the environment
What product contains Selamectin? How does it work?
Revolution
topically applied parasiticide that is absorbed and then secreted through sebaceous secretions
What 7 parasites is Selamectin effective against?
(Revolution)
- fleas - kills adults and prevents eggs from hatching
- ear mites - Otodectes cynotis
- sarcoptic mange and notoedric mange
- heartworm
- hookworms - A. tubaeforme
- roundworms - T. cati
- ticks - Dermacentor variabilis
In what patients is Selamectin safe for use in?
- 6 week old puppies and kittens at 10x dose
- ivermectin-sensitive Collies at recommended dose
- breeding males and pregnant/lactating females
- dogs and cats with oral dose - hypersalivation and vomiting noted in cats
What product contains Spinetoram? What else does it contain?
Assurity for Cats
benzoyl alcohol - potentially toxic
What product contains Indoxacarb? What is it commonly combined with in dogs?
Activyl - sodium channel blocker ingested by fleas and converted into an active agent (mammals metabolize it differently
Permethrin
What products contain Afoxolaner? What adverse effects have been noted?
NexGard - Isoxazoline
- vomiting
- anorexia
- lethargy
- diarrhea
What product contains Fluralaner?
Bravecto
- effective against fleas and ticks in animals over 12 weeks
What are 2 options for Isoxazoline combinations?
- Simparica Trio - Sarolaner, Moxidectin, Pyrantel effective against fleas, ticks, heartworm, and intestinal parasites
- Revolution Plus - Selamectin, Sarolaner effective against fleas, ticks, ear mites, intestinal parasites, and heartworm
Which products contain Spinosad? What can it not be combined with?
Comfortis, Trifexis –> beef-flavored, activated nicotinic acetycholine receptors –> for puppies >8 weeks
Ivermectin (Spinosad is a P-gp inhibitor)
What are 3 options for insecticide collars?
- Scalibor - Deltamethrin effective against fleas and ticks for up to 6 months
- Seresto - Imidacloprid and Flumethrin effective against fleas, ticks, chewing lice, and mange for up to 8 months
- Preventic - Amitraz effective against ticks
What are the 2 types of insect growth regulators used to control flea infestations?
juvenile hormone analogs - keep larve growing instead of molting into a further stage
- Methoprene - inactivated by UV (best used on animal - Frontline Plus)
- Pyriproxifen - UV stable, premise sprays (Knockout, Frontline Gold)
- Fenoxycarb - not in US
insect development inhibitors - block chitin growth
- Lufenuron - oral or SQ Program and Sentinel
- Cyromazine - not in US
What are the major advantages and disadvantage to using Lufenuron in controlling flea infestations?
ADVANTAGES - easy to administer, approved for dogs and cats
DISADVANTAGES - no adulticidal activity
(insect development inhibitor)
How are pets and the environment treated in cases of flea infestations?
PET = bathing, flea combs, treat with insecticides and IGR
PREMISE = vacuum (dispose of vacuum bag), clean carpets and area rugs, treat with insecticides or inert agents
What are 4 options for treating lawns for flea infestations?
- remove organic debris from high traffic areas (near doors)
- insecticide sprays every 2-4 weeks
- Steinernema carpocapsa - nematodes
- remove/keep out carriers (possums, rabbits, squirrels) and neighbors’ pets from the area
What are 6 strategies for treating flea infestations in puppies/kitten less than 8 weeks old?
- flea comb regularly
- use methoprene (IGR) topically
- citrus acid derivative spray/rinse
- clean/change bedding daily
- vacuum area surrounding housing area
- treat mother similarly
What are the 3 major ways of flea control in adult dogs?
- eliminate fleas on animal - Capstar, shampoo with pyrethrin/pyrethroid, topicals (Fipronil, Imidacloprid, Dinetofruan, Selamectin), oral Isoxazolines or Spinosad
- prevention - Lufenuron, FIDS, Spinosad, Isoxazolines, or Pyriproxyfen monthly
- environmental control
What are 4 options for flea control in adult cats?
- flea comb
- topicals - FIDS, Bravecto for cats
- oral Lufenuron monthly or every 6 month injection
- environmental control
