Flumethrin: an ectoparasiticide.
Flumethrin is an ectoparasiticide that belongs to the group of α-cyano-pyrethroids and has been registered in EU member states for use on companion and food-producing animals since 1986. These chemicals have been combined in a slow-release matrix collar formulation incorporating 10% imidacloprid (w/w) and 4.5% flumethrin (w/w). The imidacloprid component of the collar is aimed at the treatment and control of fleas and lice, and the flumethrin component is aimed at the treatment and control of ticks and mites. The medicated collar is expected to provide sustained protection over eight months to dogs exposed to ticks, fleas and lice[1-2].
Flumethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide used in the control of parasites, particularly ticks, on cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and dogs. Flumethrin is also used for control of mites in beehiv
es.
ChEBI: Flumethrin is an organochlorine acaricide, an organofluorine acaricide and a member of monochlorobenzenes. It has a role as a pyrethroid ester acaricide and a pyrethroid ester insecticide.
Opposite to e.g. permethrin and deltamethrin, the metabolism of flumethrin is simple without the need for glucuronidation. Flumethrin itself or its main metabolite, flumethrin acid, can be excreted without conjugation via feces. Moreover, flumethrin acid is pharmacologically inactive. The decreased feline glucuronidation rate is, therefore, toxicologically irrelevant. Accordingly, the NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for flumethrin is identical for dogs and cats. The already rather low flumethrin toxicity in cats is complemented in this new product by two other aspects: only a very low hair coat concentration of this highly effective acaricide is necessary for high efficacy against ticks, and this low amount is released steadily from the collar without peak concentrations[2].
[1] Dorothee Stanneck. “Evaluation of the long-term efficacy and safety of an imidacloprid 10%/flumethrin 4.5% polymer matrix collar (Seresto?) in dogs and cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks in multicentre clinical field studies in Europe.” Parasites & Vectors 5 (2012): 66.
[2] Dorothee Stanneck. “Efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas, ticks, mites and lice on dogs.” Parasites & Vectors 5 (2012): 102.
