Neonicotinoids are a chemical class of synthetic pesticides introduced in the 1990's and used in agriculture, public and domestic hygiene and also on animals. They can be considered as classic synthetic pesticides both by their mode of action and by their general features.

Molecular structure of imidacloprid

They have a broad spectrum of insecticidal activity and are effective against a number of veterinary parasites such as fleasflies and lice. But they have no acaricidal activity, i.e., they do not control ticks or mites. Most neonicotinoids are not systemic and have a tarsal and/or oral activity, i.e. they act by contact and/or after ingestion. 

Imidacloprid, the first neonicotinoid introduced in the market, and several other neonicotinoids have already lost patent protection and generics are available from numerous chemical companies (typically in China, India, Israel, Brazil, etc.).

Click here for a general introduction to ectoparasiticides and their most important features.


Mode of action and characteristics of neonicotinoids

Neonicotinoids are related to nicotine and are agonists of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The neonicotinoid takes the place of the normal neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the receptors, which cannot be deactivated by acetylcholinesterase and remains blocked irreversibly. This leads to an over stimulation of the nerve cells, to paralysis and to death of the affected insect.

These nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are found in the central and peripheral nervous system of mammals, but only in the central nervous systems of insects. Neonicotinoids bind much more strongly to insect receptors than to mammal receptors, which makes them relatively safe for domestic animals and humans.


Active ingredients

The neonicotinoids most relevant for veterinary use are the following ones:


Delivery forms

Molecular structure of thiametoxam

Imidacloprid is the most relevant neonicotinoid, used abundantly in spot-ons against fleas and certain lice species in dogs an cats. Since it has no tickicidal efficacy it is often combined with amitraz or synthetic pyrethroids (e.g. permethrin) to broaden the spectrum of activity. Its use on livestock is limited: there are baits for the control of nuisance flies in livestock operations, pour-ons to control sheep lice, and a few cattle pour-ons against horn flies and other fly species.

Nitenpyram is used on pets as tablets for oral administration against fleas. They show a particularly fast killing effect: a few hours after administration >90% of the fleas are dead. However, it has no residual effect, i.e., protection against re-infestation ends around 24 hours after administration. It is also used in agriculture but not in hygiene.

Thiamethoxam is not used on-animals but only in baits (scatter baits or paint-ons) against houseflies and other nuisance flies in stables, piggeries, poultry houses. etc. It is also used a lot in agriculture.

Dinotefuran is used in spot-ons for dogs and cats against fleas, and also in baits against house flies. It is also used in agriculture and hygiene.


Safety

For livestock and pets, as well as for operators and pet owners, the safety risks when using neonicotinoids are comparable to those of using products with other chemicals such as organophosphates, amidines, pyrethroids, etc. Correctly used they should be well tolerated by the treated animals and should not bear unreasonable risks for humans.

However, care must be taken that children do not get in close contact with pets during the first days after treatment with such products containing neonicotinoids.

It should be mentioned that imidacloprid is not yet allowed for use on cattle in many countries (e.g. USA, EU, Australia, etc.), although a product efficient against resistant horn flies would be quite useful. There are no "official" reasons to this. BAYER has recently introduced a lousicide pour-on for sheep in Australia, but only for off-shears application.

Imidacloprid has been involved in cases of mass mortality of bees. It has been reported that its correct use in agriculture does not actually kill the bees, but disturbs their orientation capacity, which perturbs food finding and returning to the mother colony. In the long term this weakens the colony that eventually dies. Recently (April 2013) the EU has prohibited for two years the use of several nicotinoids on various crops due to this suspected detrimental effects on bee colonies. This should have no influence on veterinary uses of neonicotinoids.

Otherwise imidacloprid is toxic to fish and many birds as well as, and highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates. It is relatively stable in the environment (av. half-life in soil = 40 to 190 days).

Additional specific information (toxicity, intoxication symptoms, adverse drug reactions, antidote, etc.) on the safety of neonicotinoid active ingredients for veterinary use is available in specific articles in this site:

General information on the safety of veterinary antiparasitics is available in specific articles in this site (click to visit):


Resistance of parasites to neonicotinoids

There are reports on housefly (Musca domestica) populations resistant to imidacloprid (resistance factor up to >500) and to thiamethoxam (resistance factor up to 76).

So far there are no reports on flea resistance to imidacloprid or other neonicotinoids.

Visit also the articles in this site about parasite resistance to antiparasitics and  how it develops.

WARNING

Never use livestock, horse or poultry products on dogs and/or cats, unless explicitly approved for dogs and/or cats too. Without reliable use instructions they can be easily overdosed, and pets may not tolerate formulations developed for use on livestock, horses and/or poultry.  Some active ingredients may be toxic to particular animals.

Never use agricultural or hygiene products on livestock, horses, poultry or pets, unless explicitly approved for veterinary use, which is quite unusual. Even if the specific active ingredient is approved for some veterinary use. The formulations for agricultural and/or hygiene use are mostly different than those for veterinary use and  may be toxic to or not be tolerated by animals.

It is obvious that veterinary medicines are not intended for and should never be used on humans!!!