THE USE OF INSECT DEVELOPMENT INHIBITORS AS AN ORAL MEDICATION FOR THE CONTROL OF THE PLEAS CTENOCEPHALIDES-FELIS, CT-CANIS IN THE DOG AND CAT

There are two oral Insect Development Inhibitors (IDI) for the control of fleas. Lufenuron is administered once a month at 10 mg . kg(-1) for dogs and 30 mg . kg(-1) for cats. Cyromazine is administered daily at 10 mg kg(-1) in combination with diethylcarbamazine citrate for dogs. Neither compound exerts an effect on the adult flea, but rather causes an interruption in normal chitin production through different specific modes of action. This causes death of the immature, developmental life stages of the flea. Thus, both control the adult flea infestation on the animal via the elimination of the environmental life stages of the flea. There is a lag phase of 6-8 weeks between the initiation of IDI administration and reduction in the number of adult fleas on the treated animals. The lag phase results from the survival of immature fleas that were present in the environment before the onset of IDI treatment; it can be reduced by initiating oral IDI treatment in combination with premise and on-animal insecticide treatments.