S09C - Tickety Split - Speed of Kill for the Lone Star Tick

The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, poses a substantial and expanding threat to dogs living or traveling within endemic areas due to the aggressive nature of this tick and the numerous tick-borne pathogen species they may vector including agents of ehrlichiosis. This common tick species is notoriously difficult to kill and is often considered the rate-limiting tick species for ectoparasiticide products. Administration of ectoparasiticide products, such as isoxazoline parasiticide products, that rapidly kill ticks reduce the likelihood of tick-borne disease transmission through efficient tick-killing. The initial and residual speed of kill of a single dose, orally administered, fluralaner (Bravecto®) was evaluated and compared with sarolaner (Simparica® Trio) against Amblyomma americanum on experimentally infested dogs.