Control of arthropods in rodents

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for controlling ectoparasites of small rodents, thereby preventing the transmission of diseases by arthropod vectors.

1 . A method of controlling ectoparasites of small rodents comprising providing one or more enclosures of appropriate size to said rodents, said enclosures having one or more peripheral openings allowing entry and egress of rodents therein, said enclosure including at least one applicator arranged to contact rodents that enter said enclosure; providing a composition consisting essentially of an ectoparasiticide and inactive ingredients on said applicator; and placing said one or more enclosures in a locus at which said rodents are expected; said applicator being arranged and said composition being provided to apply an ectoparasiticidally effective amount of the composition to the skin or hair of said rodents upon contact with said applicator, wherein the applicator is inaccessible to contact with a human hand from said one or more peripheral openings and further wherein the ectoparasiticide is a compound of formula (I):  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein: 
 R 1  is cyano, acetyl, C(S)NH 2 , alkyl, haloalkyl, C(═NOH)NH 2  or C(═NNH 2 )NH 2 ;  
 R 2  is S(O) n R 3 ; C 2 -C 3  alkenyl, C 2 -C 3  haloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, halocycloalkyl or C 2 -C 3  alkynyl;  
 R 3 , is alkyl or haloalkyl;  
 R 4  is —N═C(R 5 )-Z-R 6 , —N═C(R 5 )—N(R 7 )—R 8 , or —N(R 9 )—C(R 5 )═NR 6 ;  
 R 5  is hydrogen; alkyl; or alkyl substituted by halogen, alkoxy, haloalkoxy or —S(O) m R 15 ;  
 R 6  and R 7  each independently represent hydrogen, alkyl, C 3 -C 5  alkenyl or C 3 -C 5  alkynyl; or  
 alkyl substituted by one or more halogen, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, cyano or —S(O) m R 15 ; or alkyl substituted by phenyl or pyridyl each of which is optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halogen, nitro and alkyl; or  
 R 6  and R 7  may form together with the nitrogen to which they are attached a 3 to 7 membered ring which may additionally contain one or more heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;  
 R 8  is alkoxy, haloalkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, R 14 CO— or —S(O) t R 10 ;  
 R 9 , R 10  and R 14  are alkyl or haloalkyl;  
 R 11  and R 12  are independently selected from halogen, hydrogen, CN.  
 R 13  is selected from halogen, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, —S(O) q CF 3 , and —SF 5 ;  
 R 15  is alkyl or haloalkyl;  
 X is selected from nitrogen and C—R 12 ;  
 Z is O, S(O) a ; or NR 7 ;  
 a, m, n and q are independently selected from 0, 1, and 2; and t is 0 or 2; and  
 the veterinarily acceptable salts thereof;  
 or formula (XX):  
                     
 R 201  is cyano, C(O)alkyl, C(S)NH 2 , alkyl, C(═NOH)NH 2  or C(═NNH 2 )NH 2 ;  
 R 202  is S(O) h R 203 , C 2 -C 3  alkenyl, C 2 -C 3  haloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, halocycloalkyl or C 2 -C 3  alkynyl;  
 R 203  is alkyl or haloalkyl;  
 R 204  is —N(R 205 )C(O)CR 206 R 207 R 208 , —N(R 205 )C(O)aryl, or —N(R 205 )C(O)OR 207 ;  
 R 205  is alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, halocycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, halocycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, haloalkoxyalkyl, C 3 -C 5  alkenyl, C 3 -C 5  haloalkenyl, C 3 -C 5  alkynyl, C 3 -C 5  haloalkynyl;  
 R 206  is alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, haloalkoxyalkyl, formyloxy, alkylcarbonyloxy, haloalkylcarbonyloxy, alkylthio, haloalkylthio, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkylamino, di(haloalkyl)amino, cycloalkyloxy, halocycloalkyloxy, alkoxyalkoxy, haloalkoxyalkoxy, alkoxyalkoxyalkoxy, aryloxy, or arylalkoxy;  
 R 207  and R 208  are independently hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, or halocycloalkyl; or R 207  and R 208  may form together with the carbon to which they are attached a 3 to 7 membered ring which additionally may contain one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur;  
 X 1  is selected from nitrogen and C—R 212 ;  
 R 211  and R 212  are independently selected from halogen, hydrogen, CN;  
 R 213  is selected from halogen, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, —S(O)kCF 3 , and —SF 5 ; and  
 h and k are independently selected from 0, 1, and 2;  
 and veterinarily acceptable salts thereof, which is present in said composition in an amount of from 0.1% to 5% by weight and present in said one or more enclosures in an amount of from 0.001 gram to 2.0 grams per enclosure with the proviso that the compound of formula I or formula XX cannot be 3-cyano-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethyl) phenyl-5-N-(ethoxyacetyl)-N-methyl-4-trifluoromethylsulfinyl pyrazole.  
 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ectoparasites are arthropods.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the rodent is a mouse, rat, vole, chipmunk or squirrel.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the ectoparasites are ticks of the genus  Ixodes.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the composition is hydrophobic.  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amount of ectoparasiticide is from 0.100 g per enclosure to 2.0 g per enclosure.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the percent by weight of the ectoparasiticide in the composition is from 0.25% to 1%.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the device further comprises a foodstuff for the rodent.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein from one to ten enclosures are placed per hectare of locus  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein the enclosure further defines a passageway through which a rodent is attracted to proceed.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the applicator is disposed in the passageway.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the applicator is disposed adjacent to or near one of the one or more peripheral openings.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the applicator is rechargeable from the outside of the enclosure without necessity to open the enclosure.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the applicator is replaceable.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the applicator is a small mop head.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the applicator is a brush.  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)