Changes in flea and tick infestation following topical fipronil, permethrin, piperonyl butoxide, and pyriproxyfen in naturally infested dogs: an exploratory uncontrolled field study.
4 affiliations
- 1Hospital Veterinario DERMAVET, Mexico City, Mexico.
- 2Centro Integral Veterinario, CIVET, Mexico.
- 3Centro Universitario UAEM-Amecameca, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Amecameca, Mexico, Mexico.
- 4Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Mexico.
Abstract
Background
Flea and tick infestations impair canine welfare and may have public-health relevance in rural settings.Objective
To describe temporal changes in ectoparasite infestation and associated clinical signs after a single topical application of fipronil, permethrin, piperonyl butoxide, and pyriproxyfen (PROTECH) in naturally infested dogs.Methods
This prospective, uncontrolled exploratory field study enrolled 44 privately owned dogs in Tahdziú, Yucatán, Mexico. Dogs received one topical application at Day 0 and were reassessed on Days 15 and 30. An approximately 5-min whole-body examination documented ectoparasite presence or absence. Field-recorded numerical skin-lesion and pruritus scores and observed adverse events were summarized.Results
Among dogs with flea-only infestation (n = 18), positivity decreased from 18/18 at Day 0 to 0/18 at Days 15 and 30. Among tick-only dogs (n = 11), positivity decreased from 11/11 to 0/11 and 1/11, respectively. In mixed infestations (n = 15), positivity decreased from 15/15 to 3/15 and 2/15. Mean lesion and pruritus scores also declined in all subgroups. No adverse reactions were observed.Conclusions
A single application was followed by marked temporal reductions in ectoparasite positivity and clinical signs through Day 30. Because the study lacked a comparator and used non-validated clinical scores, the findings are descriptive and exploratory; they do not establish a causal treatment effect or comparative efficacy.
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BibTeX
@article{romeronunez2026changes,
title = {{Changes in flea and tick infestation following topical fipronil, permethrin, piperonyl butoxide, and pyriproxyfen in naturally infested dogs: an exploratory uncontrolled field study.}},
author = {Camilo Romero-Núñez and Rafael Heredia-Cárdenas and Ariadna Flores-Ortega and Linda Guiliana Bautista-Gómez and Soila Maribel Gaxiola-Camacho and José David Torres-Cruz},
journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fvets.2026.1903878},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948632},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Changes in flea and tick infestation following topical fipronil, permethrin, piperonyl butoxide, and pyriproxyfen in naturally infested dogs: an exploratory uncontrolled field study.
AU - Camilo Romero-Núñez
AU - Rafael Heredia-Cárdenas
AU - Ariadna Flores-Ortega
AU - Linda Guiliana Bautista-Gómez
AU - Soila Maribel Gaxiola-Camacho
AU - José David Torres-Cruz
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - Frontiers in veterinary science
DO - 10.3389/fvets.2026.1903878
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948632
AB - Background Flea and tick infestations impair canine welfare and may have public-health relevance in rural settings.Objective To describe temporal changes in ectoparasite infestation and associated clinical signs after a single topical application of fipronil, permethrin, piperonyl butoxide, and pyriproxyfen (PROTECH) in naturally infested dogs.Methods This prospective, uncontrolled exploratory field study enrolled 44 privately owned dogs in Tahdziú, Yucatán, Mexico. Dogs received one topical application at Day 0 and were reassessed on Days 15 and 30. An approximately 5-min whole-body examination documented ectoparasite presence or absence. Field-recorded numerical skin-lesion and pruritus scores and observed adverse events were summarized.Results Among dogs with flea-only infestation (n = 18), positivity decreased from 18/18 at Day 0 to 0/18 at Days 15 and 30. Among tick-only dogs (n = 11), positivity decreased from 11/11 to 0/11 and 1/11, respectively. In mixed infestations (n = 15), positivity decreased from 15/15 to 3/15 and 2/15. Mean lesion and pruritus scores also declined in all subgroups. No adverse reactions were observed.Conclusions A single application was followed by marked temporal reductions in ectoparasite positivity and clinical signs through Day 30. Because the study lacked a comparator and used non-validated clinical scores, the findings are descriptive and exploratory; they do not establish a causal treatment effect or comparative efficacy.
SN - 2297-1769
ER -