BUSINESS
Flea control methods capture public's fancy The fecund little flea, bane of pets and land Johnson, group product director for their owners during the hot summer Program marketing in the U.S. months, may find its ability to procreate Program's active ingredient is lufenusharply curtailed this season, as the popu- ron, a benzoyl urea that inhibits the delarity of so-called insect growth regula- velopment of chitin, a vital component tors swells among the pet-owning public. of the exoskeleton common to many inThe two major firms that manufac- sects. Chitin, says one scientist, "is the ture these flea control products, Sandoz part of the cockroach that goes crunch Animal Health in Des Plaines, 111., and when you step on it." Ciba-Geigy in Greensboro, N.C., won't Lufenuron is fat soluble and so coldivulge specific figures, but both say lects in an animal's adipose tissues. The sales are booming. chemical then gradually diffuses into the Insect growth regulators—chemicals bloodstream, mamtaining a constant levdesigned to interfere with insect devel- el for about a month. The flea that bites opment—have been around for some the animal ingests the lufenuron. Adult cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis time. But Ciba's new, enthusiastically That flea's eggs are unable to develop promoted oral variety for pets, recently without chitin, and most die before hatchapproved by the Food & Drug Admin- ing, says William R. Campbell, manager cuticle into her ovaries, disrupts develistration, has brought the technology to of vet product safety at Ciba. Vertebrates opment of eggs before they're even laid. the forefront of people's attention. produce no chitin, and so the chemical "The insects get confused," says Steven R. Hansen, manager of technical services Insect growth regulators in general has virtually no effect on them. have great appeal for controlling fleas Also rising in popularity is another at Sandoz Animal Health. "They die." Sales of Vet-Kern and Zodiac are in that they interrupt the insect's life type of growth regulator that has actucycle. Other control methods such as ally been available for nearly a decade. "fantastic," says Peter Bicart, manager pyrethrins wallop the adult insects, yet Manufactured by Sandoz, the chemical of animal health marketing for Sandoz. leave millions of their eggs unharmed. Precor (S-methoprene) is an ingredient "It's been a steady increase ever since During a monthlong life cycle, an in flea collars and in animal, house, we introduced our products." Although veterinarians are enthusiadult female flea may lay up to 2,000 and garden sprays. Sandoz has two eggs, most of which fall off the host product lines that feature Precor: Vet- astic about insect growth regulators, dog or cat onto the pet owner's carpet Kern, which is primarily marketed they warn that the products are not inor furniture. Soon, the hallmarks of an through veterinarians, and Zodiac, vincible. In particular, clients clamoring for Program, lured by the convenience infested house appear: hopping black which is available in pet stores. specks and people and pets suffering Precor is an insect juvenile hormone of a once-a-month dose, may not realwelts, rashes, and miserable itching. By analog that interferes with flea develop- ize its drawbacks. When using Program, the flea still has then, most folks have resigned them- ment. During normal transition from the selves to a flea season of constant bath- larval to pupal stage, juvenile hormone to bite the animal to get the product, ing, bombing, and spraying. levels decrease dramatically. But treating which can cause inflammatory skin reacTo relieve such regimented chemical fleas with Precor keeps levels of juvenile tions, says Kenneth Harkewicz, a veteridousings, Ciba's Animal Health Divi- hormone high, preventing pupal devel- narian at Broadway Pet Hospital in Oaksion developed Program, a once-a- opment. Additionally, Precor, when ab- land, Calif. If an animal goes outside, it month dose given orally to dogs and sorbed through an adult female flea's risks picking up "hitchhiker fleas" that start the cycle all over again. cats that renders sterile the The cost can be prohibitive as fleas that bite the animals. Alwell, says Richard Benjamin of ready in use in 32 other counGrowth regulators inhibit Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital, tries, Program was first apflea development Berkeley, Calif. Monthly doses proved in the U.S. last Novemof Program cost between $5.00 ber by FDA in a pill form for and $7.00 per animal, and if a dogs. A liquid form for cats reperson owns lots of dogs and ceived approval in April. cats, a six-month supply can get An aggressive advertising (S)-Methoprene pretty expensive, he says. campaign for the dog pills Most vets recommend treating worked too well, according to Cl the house with a combination of vets complaining of Program o o growth regulators and regular, back orders of up to eight
