References
Flea product efficacy, pet owners' adherence and treatment failure: what's the connection?
Abstract
Successful flea control relies mainly on the use of effective anti-flea products and the adherence of pet owners to treatment recommendations. When flea infestations continue to persist, despite the application of a potent flea product, lack of efficacy may be suspected. This study evaluated whether common flea products are still effective. As compliance is also critical, the impacts of owners' adherence on treatment success were also investigated, with a view to giving recommendations for improvement. The authors tested the hypothesis that when treatment failure occurs, perceived inefficacy of anti-flea products is caused by poor compliance. Searches were carried out in PubMed and CAB Abstracts, with abstracts screened against predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. In total, eleven studies on efficacy and seven studies on adherence were included in the analysis. All anti-flea products included in the study, with the exception of fipronil-S methoprene and possibly selamectin, appear to be effective in treating and preventing flea infestations in dogs and cats. With the majority of pet owners failing to adhere to recommendations, all veterinary staff should be proactive in providing rationale for the use of anti-flea products and reassure owners of their effectiveness to maximise compliance.
Fleas are considered to be the most important ectoparasite of dogs and cats (Abdullah et al, 2019). They have impressive reproductive capabilities, as well as an ability to persist in the environment and act as pathogenic vectors. Of the 2500 species worldwide, Ctenocephalides felis felis (cat flea), Ctenocephalides canis, Pulex simulans and Echidnophaga gallinacea are seen as significant, because of their ability to infest companion animals in large numbers (Blagburn and Dryden, 2009). Of the aforementioned species, the cat flea is the most dominant, and is found parasitising cats and dogs.
The blood-feeding behaviour of fleas causes direct irritation, resulting in intense pruritus and, in cases of severe infestation, anaemia (Taenzler et al, 2014). Repeated exposure can lead to the development of flea allergy dermatitis in both dogs and cats (Dryden et al, 2013a) and it is estimated that 50% of dermatological cases in dogs are associated with fleas (Beugnet et al, 2012). Flea allergy dermatitis is caused by an exaggerated immune response to fleas' salivary antigens, injected during feeding, which leads to hypersensitivity. If left untreated, skin changes attributed to self-trauma can occur, such as alopecia or crust formation (Stanneck et al, 2012).
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