Field Evaluation of a Topical Combination of Ivermectin, Imidacloprid, and Praziquantel for Flea Control in Cats Under Routine Clinical

Abstract

Flea infestation remains a major clinical and public health concern in cats due to its impact on animal welfare and its role in the transmission of zoonotic pathogens. This study evaluated the clinical performance of a topical formulation combining ivermectin, imidacloprid, and praziquantel for flea control in domestic cats under routine field condition. A total of 142 naturally infested cats of varying ages, sexes, and body conditions received a single topical application and were evaluated on Days 0, 1, 7, 14, and 30 using standardized flea counts, pruritus scores, and dermatological lesion scores. Treatment effectiveness was assessed through pre–post within-subject comparisons. In this study, effective flea control was defined as a marked reduction in the proportion of flea-positive cats relative to baseline, together with concurrent clinical improvement. Using these criteria, the proportion of cats free of detectable fleas exceeded 91% by Day 7 and approached 95% by Day 30. Significant clinical improvement was observed during the first two weeks, including reductions in pruritus intensity and dermatological lesion scores. Treatment response did not differ according to sex or age, indicating consistent clinical performance across diverse feline subpopulations. No adverse effects were reported. These findings indicate that the evaluated topical combination provides consistent and clinically meaningful flea control under field conditions, supporting its use as part of integrated parasite management strategies in companion animals. The absence of a negative control or active comparator group represents a limitation of the study; therefore, effectiveness was evaluated using within-subject comparisons rather than established regulatory efficacy benchmarks.