Dr. Craig Prior
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) released its first-ever set of guidelines on mosquito control to fight a variety of vector-borne diseases in dogs. The organization recommends an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy that focuses on treatment, control and prevention of diseases spread by mosquitoes, which includes heartworm.
“The veterinary community has always been focused on killing the disease after it occurs,” says Dr. Craig Prior, president of the CAPC. “If we can go after the mosquito as well, we can be more effective.”
Inquiries about mosquito-borne diseases in dogs have been increasing and cases of heartworm infection continue to be diagnosed in high numbers, according to Ceva Animal Health.
Dr. Byron Blagburn
The CAPC guidelines, authored by parasitology professor Dr. Byron Blagburn, say that recent research indicates treating of dogs with a combination of dinotefuran, permethrin and pyriproxyfen inhibits uptake of heartworm microfilariae from infected dogs. It also prevents transmission of heartworm infective larvae from infected mosquitoes to non-infected dogs.
The guidelines also refer to research conducted by Dr. John McCall, a professor emeritus in the department of infectious diseases at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. In two phases of the study, Dr. McCall showed the value of topical repellent insecticidal products in a “double defense” protocol for protecting dogs against the vector – the mosquito – and use of a preventive against heartworm disease, Ceva Animal Health says.
“Science demands that we shouldn’t presume anything until we prove it,” says Dr. Byron Blagburn, MS, PhD, DAVCM, noted parasitology professor, researcher and author of the mosquito control guidelines. “This research makes it legitimate that mosquito control is important. I would venture to say that there’s not an example of more relevant research in the last five years.”
Photos: CAPC
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