Antifeeding and short-term insecticidal effects against Lutzomya longipalpis in dogs treated with permethrin or deltamethrin

Resumo

Canine visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania and transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies of the genus Lutzomyia in the New World and Phlebotomus in the Old World. The individual protection of dogs by treatment with permethrin 65% or by a 4% deltamethrin-impregnated collar is evaluated in this study based on the antifeeding of the products and the short term insecticidal  antifeeding effects in the following sites on the dog’s body: the inner side of the ear and the inguinal region. Both products produced a decrease in blood feeding and an increase in the antifeeding of the sandflies and the effects were not homogeneous, as there were significant differences between the effects on the pinna and on the inguinal region. The treatments of dogs with synthetic pyrethroids are important strategies to reduce the infection rates in endemic regions however the antifeeding and antifeeding effects were low and may not be sufficient to ensure a dog’s individual protection.