The effects of an imidacloprid and permethrin combination against developmental stages of Ixodes ricinus ticks

Abstract

The effects of 10% imidacloprid and 50% permenthrin on Ixodes ricinus ticks were studied in-vivo and in-vitro and led to the following significant results:

• 1. The new combination of imidacloprid and permethrin, applied topically to dogs, resulted in a significant repellent effect, lasting for at least 4 weeks against Ixodes ricinus ticks.

• 2. For dogs resting at tick-contaminated places (thus offering the ticks time for delayed entry into the coat), the acaricidal activity of the new product considerably limits the attachment of ticks. This efficacy is independent from life cycle stages of the I. ricinus tick.

• 3. The repellency and acaricidal effect after 1 h of exposure reported here is expected to be sufficient to prevent transmission of tick-borne diseases.

• 4. Together with the fast onset of efficacy against fleas published previously for imidacloprid, the new combination now offers a high level of protection for at least 28 days against fleas and ticks, thus limiting their activities as vectors of diseases.