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Two controlled, blinded and randomized multi–site clinical field studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of emodepside/praziquantel spot–on in the treatment of gastrointestinal nematode and cestode infections in cats. In a study conducted in Europe, faecal egg count reductions of >98% for all nematode eggs and eggs of Toxocara cati, respectively, were observed in cats treated with emodepside/praziquantel spot–on (Profender®, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany). For a positivecontrol product containing selamectin (Stronghold) reductions of >95% were observed. A 100% reduction of faecal eggs and proglottids was observed in cats treated with emodepside/praziquantel spot–on that were infected with cestodes. In a study conducted in North America, cats were treated with either emodepside/praziquantel spot–on plus a placebo tablet or a combination of two control products containing, respectively, selamectin (Revolution) and epsiprantel (Cestex). Faecal egg count reduction for eggs of T. catiwas >99% for both treatments. For faecal eggs and proglottids of Dipylidium caninumreductions of >99 and >97% were recorded for cats treated with emodepside/praziquantel spot–on and the control group, respectively. No adverse reactions were observed in the European study, and only mild ones of short duration in a few cats from both treatment groups of the North American study. The two studies demonstrated that emodepside/praziquantel spot–on is highly efficacious and safe under field conditions.

Eleven controlled studies were conducted in the United States and Europe to evaluate the efficacy of a topical solution of emodepside (3 mg/kg)+praziquantel (12 mg/kg) (Profender®, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany) against infection with various stages of the ascarid nematodes Toxocara catiand Toxascaris leonina. Infections were induced by administration of larvated ascarid eggs, and stage–specific efficacy was evaluated by treating cats at scheduled intervals post–inoculation. All studies featured random allocation to treatment groups, placebo–treated control animals and assessment of outcome measures by masked personnel. The product (emodepside+praziquantel topical solution) was 100% effective against mature adults and immature adult T. cati. In addition, it was 96.8% effective against third stage larvae and at least 99.4% effective against fourth stage larvae of T. cati, respectively. Efficacy against mature, immature adult and L4 stages of T. leoninaexceeded 93.4%, but regulatory “adequacy of infection” criteria were not met in sorne studies. No adverse reactions to treatment were noted in cats treated with the emodepside+praziquantel topical solution.

Emodepside+praziquantel topical solution was developed to provide broad–spectrum anthelmintic activity against gastrointestinal parasites in cats. Eight controlled studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a topical solution of emodepside (3 mg/kg) and praziquantel (12 mg/kg) (Profender®, BayerAG, Leverkusen, Germany) against feline infections with three species of cestodes. Studies featured naturally acquired infections of Dipylidium caninumor Taenia taeniaeformis, or experimental infections with Echinococcus multilocularisthat were placebo–controlled, randomized and blinded. Cats were euthanatized and necropsied between 2 and 11 days after treatment, depending on the target parasite. The efficacy of emodepside+praziquantel topical solution was 100% against D. caninumand T. taeniaeformis, and 98.5– 100% against E. multilocularis. No significant systemic or local adverse reactions to treatment were noted in cats that received the combination. Topical treatment of cats with emodepside+praziquantel topical solution was safe and highly effective against cestode infections.

This paper reports the efficacy of emodepside/praziquantel spot–on (Profender®, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany), a novel broadspectrum anthelmintic for dermal application, against L4 larvae and immature adult and adult stages of Ancylostoma tubaeformein cats. The formulation contains 2.14% (w/w) emodepside and 8.58% (w/v) praziquantel, with emodepside being active against gastrointestinal nematodes and praziquantel against cestodes. Five randomized, blinded and controlled laboratory studies demonstrated 100% efficacy of emodepside/praziquantel spot–on against mature A. tubaeformeand an efficacy of >95% and >97%, respectively, against L4 larvae and immature adults (based on worm counts after necropsy) at approximately the minimum proposed dose rate in cats of 3.0 mg emodepside and 12.0 mg praziquantel/kg body weight. No adverse reactions to the treatment were observed. It is concluded that emodepside/praziquantel spot–on is an effective and safe treatment against infections with mature and immature A. tubaeforme. Emodepside/praziquantel spot–on will considerably facilitate the treatment of cats against nematodes and cestodes compared with orally administered preparations.