Brand: SCALIBOR ®

Company: MERCK ANIMAL HEALTH = MSD ANIMAL HEALTH (formerly INTERVET)


FORMULATION: «collar» impregnated with insecticides/tickicides 

ACTIVE INGREDIENT(S)*: DELTAMETHRIN 40 g/kg (= 4.0%)

CHEMICAL CLASS of the active ingredient(s): SYNTHETIC PYRETHROID


INDICATIONS: DOGS


PARASITES CONTROLLED* (spectrum of activity)

In the EU and other countries also:

  • Mosquitoes (Culex pipiens
  • Sandflies (Phlebotomus perniciosus, vector of leishmaniasis)

* Can be slightly different in some countries: read the product label!


RECOMMENDED DOSE

Since the active ingredient is released slowly from the collar's matrix, it is not possible to calculate the exact dose that the animals are exposed to in a particular moment.


SAFETY

  • LD50 (acute oral) in rats: n.a. for the collar. For the active ingredient deltamethrin 128 to >5000 mg/kg depending on the carrier.

Suspected poisoning? Read the article on deltamethrin safety in this site.

WARNING !!!: Never use on cats collars approved only for dogs.  Learn more about insecticide-impregnated collars and their safety.

You may be interested in the following articles in this site dealing with the general safety of veterinary products:


RESISTANCE PREVENTION

Risk of resistance? YES, moderate in:

Resistance of mosquitoes and fleas to synthetic pyrethroids is common in many countries, including the USA, and resistance of brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) has been reported in several places (e.g. the USA, Brazil, Spain, Panama). For this reason efficacy against these parasites may be weaker and protection shorter than expected.

Alternatives to prevent resistance through product rotation:

*F = effective against fleas; T = effective against ticks.

These alternative products may not be available in all countries, or may not be available as collars.

Resistance of fleas, mosquitoes and brown dog ticks to carbamates and organophosphates is not uncommon in several countries, including the USA.

Learn more about resistance and how it develops.


MARKETING

Are the active ingredients of this product ORIGINAL* or GENERICS**?

  • Deltamethrin: GENERIC (introduced in the 1970s)

*Meaning that they are still patent protected and generics are not yet available
**Meaning that they have lost patent protection and may be acquired from manufacturers of generic active ingredients other than the holder of the original patent.

COUNTRIES where this product is marketed (maybe under another TM): basically worldwide, including the USA and the EU.
GENERIC BRANDS available? NO, in this particular composition

Click here to learn more about GENERIC vs. ORIGINAL drugs.


COMMENTS

SCALIBOR is an insecticide impregnated collar for dogs from MERCK ANIMAL HEALTH (formerly INTERVET) with an impressive efficacy claim of 6 months control of mosquitoes, fleas and ticks, including the most common ticks species that affect dogs and cats in the USA (Deer ticks Ixodes scapularis; Western black-legged ticks Ixodes pacificus; American dog ticks Dermacentor variabilis; brown dog ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus), in the EU (Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and elsewhere (paralysis ticks Ixodes holocyclus; Ixodes hexagonus).

Deltamethrin is a veteran pyrethroid insecticide and tickicide introduced in the late 1970s (by ROUSSEL-UCLAF → INTERVET → MERCK AH). It has a broad-spectrum of activity against insects, ticks and mites. Use in dogs is rather modest. Until the 200os it was very much used against agricultural, domestic and veterinary pests of ruminants. Nowadays usage has declined because numerous pests (e.g. cattle ticks, horn & buffalo flies, houseflies, sheep body lice, fleas, mosquitoes, cockroaches, etc.) have developed resistance to most synthetic pyrethroids (incl. deltamethrin).
 
The label claim of 6 months protection is substantially longer than most alternative flea-control products (spot-ons, tablets, etc.), but may not always be achieved due to resistance of mosquitoes, brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and/or fleas to synthetic pyrethroids.

Topical products (mainly spot-ons and insecticide-impregnated collars) have some advantages over systemic products (mainly tablets for oral administration and injectables):

  • Most topical products kill or sterilize the parasites before they bite and suck blood on the pet, whereas systemic products kill or sterilize the parasites only after their blood meal.
  • Topical products cannot be vomited.
  • Spot-ons and collars are very convenient to administer.
  • There is a larger choice of topical products.

But topical products have also some disadvantages:

  • Topical products contaminate the pet's hair coat and it is advisable for children and also adults to avoid contact with the pet for several days after treatment.
  • Topical products may not control parasites in some parts of the pet's body (e.g. the ears, below the tail, between the legs, etc.), whereas systemic products reach the blood-sucking parasites through the blood wherever they are.
  • Efficacy of topical products may be reduced or shortened through exposure to dirt, sun, shampooing, washing, rain, baths, etc., whereas efficacy of systemic products is independent from these factors.

For an overview and a list of the most popular pet antiparasitics for flea, tick, lice and/or mite control click here.


DISCLAIMER

This article IS NOT A PRODUCT LABEL. It offers complementary information that may be useful to veterinary professionals and users that are not familiar with veterinary antiparasitics. 

Information offered in this article has been extracted from publications issued by manufacturers, government agencies (e.g. EMEA, FDA, USDA, etc.) or in the scientific literature. No guarantee is given on its accuracy, integrity, sufficiency, actuality and opportunity, and any liability is denied. Read the site's DISCLAIMER.

In case of doubt contact the manufacturer or a veterinary professional.