Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 29, 2026
Visualizing Efficacy of Pesticides Against Disease Vector Mosquitoes in the Field
Published on: March 16, 2019
Changes in flea and tick infestation following topical fipronil, permethrin, piperonyl butoxide, and pyriproxyfen in
Camilo Romero-Núñez1, Rafael Heredia-Cárdenas2, Ariadna Flores-Ortega3
1Hospital Veterinario DERMAVET, Mexico City, Mexico.
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.
