Systemic treatment of blood-sucking and blood-consuming parasites by oral administration of a parasiticidal agent

Abstract

Pharmaceutically acceptable single parasiticidal agent compositions of imidacloprid for oral delivery to mammals to systemically control targeted blood-sucking or blood-consuming parasites, such as fleas, ticks and certain species of helminthes and scabies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pharmaceutically acceptable composition of a parasiticidally effective, subtoxic amount of imidacloprid for oral delivery to mammals to control blood-sucking or consuming parasites thereon, wherein imidacloprid is the only parasiticidal agent present in the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition provides imidacloprid in a single dose level of 0.01 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the imidacloprid is provided at a single dose level of 0.25 mg/kg. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated as a chewable soft treat. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 2 , further comprising packaging and a label therefor, wherein the label directs use of the composition as a treatment for fleas. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the parasiticidally effective amount is sufficient to kill adult fleas. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition provides imidacloprid in a single dose level of 0.01 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the imidacloprid is provided at a single dose level of 3 mg/kg. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 7 , further comprising packaging and a label therefor, wherein the label directs use of the composition as a treatment for ticks. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the parasiticidally effective amount is sufficient to kill adult ticks or tick nymphs. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the parasiticidally effective amount is sufficient to kill blood-sucking or consuming helminthes. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the parasiticidally effective amount is sufficient to kill blood-sucking or consuming scabies. 
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the parasiticidally effective amount is sufficient to kill flea larvae or flea eggs. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the parasiticidally effective amount is sufficient to kill tick larvae or tick eggs. 
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flavoring. 
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated as a pill, tablet or capsule. 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a cat or dog. 
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition provides imidacloprid in a single dose level of 0.25 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg. 
     
     
         19 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition provides imidacloprid in a single dose level of 0.5 mg/kg to 6 mg/kg and the parasite is a flea, flea larvae, or flea eggs. 
     
     
         20 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition provides imidacloprid in a single dose level of 15 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg and the parasite is a tick, tick larvae, or tick eggs.