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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 30th November 2022
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Veterinary drugs found effective against bed bugs
Antiparasitic drugs used in companion animals could combat bed bug resurgence in poulty farms.
Study explored medication use in poultry farms.

A study from North Carolina State University has found that two common veterinary medicines used to combat parasites in companion animals have potential to control resurgent bed bug populations on poultry farms.

As the research team explained, owing to the sensitive nature of the poultry environment, bed bug control options are limited. 

Combined with limited level of products labelled for bed bug control, and bed bug populations' resistance to a wide range of active ingredients, this means that alternative options should be investigated.

Researchers tested Fluralaner and Ivermectin, medications used to treat fleas and ticks on companion animals, on bed bugs (Cimex lectularius).

The team tested bed bug mortality rates by topical treatment or ingestion of the medications, and also allowing the bugs to feed on the chickens.

In the lab, both of the medications were efficient, killing most of the bed bugs, but fluralaner was discovered to more significantly more effective on bed bugs that showed resistance to common insecticides.

When trialled in the chickens, fluralaner was found to be highly effective at killing bed bugs, while ivermectin was ineffective against the bed bugs feeding on the dosed chickens.

Corresponding author of a paper describing the work, Professor of Entomology at NC State, explained: “The bed bug is a globally important insect. The last few decades have seen a resurgence of bed bugs in homes, and now we’re seeing bed bugs return to poultry farms. 

“Since there is no proven method to stop bed bugs in commercial farms, the potential problems on poultry farms could be massive. We’re trying to get ahead of it by developing technologies that can eliminate bed bugs.”

María González-Morales, former PhD student at NC State and lead author of the paper, said: “The health effects to poultry from bed bug infestation are not well documented, but anecdotally poultry farmers see animal welfare concerns like stress and anemia, which could negatively affect meat or egg production.”

Published in Parasites and Vectors, the full paper is available to read here.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."