Tickicidal Efficacy of a Pour-on Formulation of Flumethrin against Ticks on Dogs

When Applied Directly to Tick Dorsal Side

Abstract

Active ingredients of spot-on formulations for tick control will not evenly distribute on the dog surface, and become sparsely distributed in remote areas. The present study was conducted to prove a hypothesis that direct application of a tickicidal liquid remedy on ticks is an effective complementary method. Thirty dogs naturally infested by ticks were employed. A pour-on formulation of flumethrin was directly applied to the dorsal side of 122 ticks on the 30 dogs, in a dose of 5 μl of the product or 50 μg as the active ingredient per tick. Two ticks of each of the 30 dogs were not treated with the tickicide, serving as unmedicated controls. Tick infestations were observed 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours after exposure. All the ticks treated were eliminated within 3 or 12 hours, and no ticks of the unmedicated were eliminated during the observation period of 24 hours. No adverse effects were observed in any of the dogs. Direct application of the drug will be used as a complementary method, when a tickicidal remedy such as a spot-on formulation is administered.