the giant sable of angola

About Bayer HealthCare

About Bayer HealthCare

About Bayer HealthCare

New Seresto® keeps ticks and fleas at bay month after month

New collar from Bayer Animal Health offers dogs and cats an unparalleled protection period of up to eight months from ticks and fleas in a single treatment
12. April 2012
Birmingham, UK, 12 April 2012 – Bayer Animal Health today launched Seresto (known as Foresto in some European markets[*]), the latest in a long line of innovative anti-parasite products from one of the world’s leading animal health companies. The Seresto collar gives outstanding protection against fleas and ticks for up to 8 months from a single application. Seresto is the first new treatment in more than a decade to offer combined tick and flea protection for both cats and dogs, and as the first product to offer repellency against ticks for cats as well as dogs, Seresto helps to reduce the risk of vector-borne disease transmission from these parasites.

Dr. Helmut Pinsenschaum, veterinary surgeon from Münchsteinach, Germany spoke of the launch of Seresto, “This is the first time we have had a product that can offer protection from both ticks and fleas for as long as eight months with a single application. This level of long-term efficacy is completely new, and the fact that you can also use the same treatment for both cats and dogs makes it a real game changer for both vets and our patients.”

Seresto represents a major advance in the development of anti-parasitic treatments. Through the integration of a unique polymer matrix it slowly releases controlled doses of two proven active ingredients – imidacloprid and flumethrin – that together are proven to be highly effective treatments for ticks and fleas, ensuring the animal always receives just the right dose for optimal protection.

Experience with the use of Seresto is expected to have a significant impact on the treatment recommendations of many veterinarians.Dr. Adriana Estrela, a veterinarian from Portugal who participated in the clinical studies with Seresto saw a change in her practice: “I didn’t use to recommend collars. Instead I would recommend monthly application of spot-ons, which are great products, but we often had to remind people that the product had to be applied every month to remain effective. Sometimes forgetting for a week or two was enough for the animal to become infested again. The truth is that with Seresto everything changed – now we apply Seresto and we know that for the next eight months we don’t need to worry.”

The launch of Seresto comes as veterinarians worldwide are seeing changes in the patterns of parasite risk for pets. Dr. Ferenc Szaniszlo, a veterinary surgeon from Hungary experienced these changes first hand, “In our practice, over the last twenty years we have seen more and more tick infestations and more and more infections transmitted by ticks. And these cases aren’t just happening in the traditional tick seasons, or in remote forest areas, so it is critical that we ensure all our dogs and cats are protected all year round.” Dr. Francois Laurent, a veterinarian from France, echoes this sentiment: “We know that the animals that we treat are exposed to the constant presence of ticks and fleas throughout the year, so we recommend antiparasiticides are used all year long. In our experience, Seresto is a simple, effective, long-term solution, and even our most sceptical customers have been won over by the benefits they have seen.”

Ute Schucht from Germany, a dog owner involved in the field-trials of Seresto, is convinced of the benefits of using Seresto. “My dog Nero loves to spend time in the woods. Before, it didn’t matter what we tried, often he would still come home with ticks in his fur and they would sometimes drop off in the house. Since we started using Seresto two years ago we have not faced this typical problem. It’s great, now with Seresto we know that he is protected from fleas and ticks wherever he goes. Nero’s brother Luka lives near us, but he wasn’t involved in the trial, so his owners kept using the same treatments we used to. Unfortunately that means that when we walk the dogs in the woods, Luka often still collects ticksbut Nero is well protected for a long time.”

Online media centre For access to supporting media materials, please visit: About Seresto Seresto is available as a collar in two sizes that can be worn by both cats and dogs. It has been designed to stay securely in place for an up to eight month period while ensuring safety from strangulation.

Seresto is unique in including both a leading insecticide, imidacloprid and the highly effective acaricideflumethrin. These compounds are embedded in an innovative waterproof, odour-free collar made of a polymer matrix that ensures that the active ingredients are consistently released over an up to eight month period at an effective, low dose.

About ticks and fleas
Tick and flea infestations are more than just a nuisance; they also pose a very real threat to both pets and humans as they can transmit serious diseases. These diseases have become more frequently diagnosed and more geographically widespread, increasing both the danger posed to pets and the risk posed to humans.

Fleas are the most common ectoparasite in cats and dogs and are capable of spreading and/or causing a number of diseases that affect cats, dogs and humans, including tapeworm, flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), bartonellosis and endemic typhus. Diseases spread by ticks include anaplasmosis, Lyme borreliosis, babesiosis and ehrlichiosis, many of which can cause serious diseases in humans. In dogs, many of these diseases can be lethal and cannot yet be treated, meaning that prevention is key to their management. The most effective disease prevention technique is to stop parasites from biting, removing any possibility of disease transmission.

The ability of a treatment to prevent biting is commonly referred to as ‘repellency’ (anti-feeding) – products that offer repellency, like Seresto, have been demonstrated in field studies to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

About Bayer HealthCare The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 17.2 billion (2011), is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 55,700 employees (Dec 31, 2011) and is represented in more than 100 countries. Find more information at With a turnover of EUR 1.190 million (2011) Bayer HealthCare’s Animal Health Division is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of veterinary drugs. The division manufactures and markets more than 100 different veterinary drugs and care products for livestock and companion animals.

Tick-borne infectious diseases

Tick-borne infectious diseases

Tick-borne infectious diseases

Tick- and flea-borne infectious diseases in dogs and cats (backgrounder)
Cats and dogs have always been subject to tick and flea infestations; however in recent years the diseases transmitted by these parasites (known as vector-borne diseases) have become more widespread, posing a very real threat to both pets and humans.

These changes have come about as a result of a complex interplay between many factors, including: increased rates of pet ownership
increasing numbers of pets kept inside the house and allowed access to human sleeping areas, etc.
increased frequency and duration of pet travel leading to the movement of infected ticks to new geographic areas
increasing travel to countries with endemic vector-borne diseases
changes in urban planning that increase ‘tick-friendly’ green spaces in urban areas
wildlife protection efforts that increase numbers of alternative hosts for ticks, such as foxes
climatic changes that allow diseases previously restricted to warmer climates to spread north, and less severe winters that result in fewer tick deaths.
Many people may be already aware that flea infestations in pets can occur all year round, however it is less well-known that climatic changes have also led to tick infestations occurring more frequently outside of traditional peak seasons. With the risk of infestation and related diseases remaining throughout the year, a number of expert groups recommend that pet flea and tick preventative treatment should be maintained year round.

The most effective approach to dealing with tick- and flea-borne diseases is to prevent transmission. This can be achieved by repelling the parasite vectors that transmit these potentially lethal diseases. The use of parasiticides with repellent activity has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of potentially lethal vector-transmitted diseases under laboratory as well as field conditions.

Tick-borne infectious diseases
There are around 800 species of tick worldwide, broadly categorised as either ‘hard’ (or ixodids) or ‘soft’ (or argasids). Soft ticks feed quickly and are rarely a cause of disease burden. The approximately 400 species of hard ticks remain attached to a host for as much as several days, and pose a threat to pets and humans as they can potentially transmit infection between hosts, and even between species.

The main hard tick species affecting pets in Europe are Ixodes ricinus (the sheep tick, deer tick or castor bean tick), Dermacentor reticulatus (marsh tick or ornate cow tick) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Brown Dog Tick). Together, these ticks are responsible for the transmission of a number of serious diseases in companion animals, including:
Anaplasmosis: can cause acute fever and significantly damage the immune system of dogs and cats. Anaplasmosis appears to be a largely self-limiting infection in dogs.
Babesiosis: causes fever with severe, progressive haemolytic anaemia in dogs. Diagnosed only sporadically in cats where disease tends to be chronic and low-grade until stressed. Infection causes long-term damage to kidneys, liver and Central Nervous System (CNS).
Ehrlichiosis: causes fever, weight loss, eye and nose discharge, as well as thrombocytopenia and anaemia in dogs, but is rarely diagnosed in cats. Long-term subclinical infection is common in dogs; however, severe life-threatening chronic ehrlichiosis can arise following persistent infection. Ehrlichiosis is more severe in certain breeds (e.g. German Shepherd) and in younger animals.
Lyme borreliosis: affects cats and dogs as well as humans. Although a high proportion of dogs are seropositive in endemic areas, relatively few develop clinical signs such as lameness, fever, loss of appetite and fatigue. Persistent infection with Borrelia spp. even after antibiotic therapy is reportedly common in dogs.
Mediterranean Spotted Fever (MSF)/boutonneuse fever: MSF can be found in dogs and humans in Southern Europe, the Middle East and Southern Africa, but clinical signs have not been reported in dogs. In humans, symptoms include high fever, severe headache, rash and photophobia.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE): caused by a Flavivirus, TBE is found across northern and eastern Europe where it is spread by I. ricinus. Traditionally appearing in two peaks in late spring and early autumn periods, climatic changes are extending the risk period for TBE. Three subtypes of TBE exist, with the more easterly forms associated with greater morbidity and mortality in humans. While TBE can manifest in dogs, it is a less severe disease, with low risk of developing clinical symptoms including paralysis. In humans, clinical symptoms appear in 30% of infected individuals. The majority of symptomatic patients experience flu-like symptoms, however 10-15% will develop neurological effects including meningoencephalitis, and paralysis. Death rates vary depending on subtype, from 1-5% in Central Europe to 25-30% in the Far Eastern (or Russian Spring/Summer) form.
Several of the tick-borne infections that affect companion animals can cause serious diseases in humans, notably Lyme borreliosis, anaplasmosis, RMSF, Mediterranean Spotted Fever and tick-borne encephalitis.

Infection with multiple tick-transmitted pathogens, or with multiple genotypes of the same pathogenic species, can occur in an individual animal following heavy exposure to ticks. The same tick species can be a vector for several pathogens, and coinfection of individual ticks can occur. In dogs, coinfection with combinations of Ehrlichia, Bartonella, Babesia, Hepatozoon, Leishmania and Rickettsia species occur in endemic areas.

Flea-borne infectious diseases
Like ticks, fleas are capable of spreading a number of diseases that affect cats, dogs and humans. Fleas are also being aided by the changes in climate, leading to longer seasons and fewer fleas being killed off over winter, and by changes in pet ownership. The increasing use of central heating in colder climates and the greater physical closeness between pets and owners in particular have helped fleas to remain the most common ectoparasite in cats and dogs.

While there are a number of species of flea, the most important species in European pets are Ctenocephalides felis (the cat flea), Ctenocephalides canis (the dog flea) and Pulex irritans (the human flea). While each has its preferred hosts (as indicated by their common names), they are also capable of infesting other species.

Diseases caused or spread via fleas include:
Dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum): despite the name, the Dipylidium caninum tapeworm can infect cats and humans, particularly children, as well as dogs. Symptoms may include mild weight loss along with itching around the anal area caused by passing segments of tapeworm.
Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD): one of the most frequent causes of skin conditions in small animals and a major clinical issue in dogs and cats. Symptoms include rashes and swelling along with self-trauma due to excessive scratching. Prolonged exposure can lead to chronic lesions, alopecia, infection and changes to skin structure.
Bartonellosis: a number of Bartonella species are now known to be zoonotic and use pets as reservoirs. The most well known of the bartonella spp is Bartonella hensellae, which causes the disease commonly known as ‘cat scratch disease‘. As with other Bartonella species, B. hensellae can be transmitted either via the feeding of fleas or directly by biting or scratching. Clinical manifestation of Bartonella infection can range from asymptomatic infection, to severe disease and sudden death. Clinical signs related to Bartonella infection in dogs include: endocarditis, myocarditis, anaemia, hepatitis, polyarthritis, uveitis, choroiditis, weight loss and epistaxis. Cats do not appear to usually develop symptoms as a result of Bartonella infection.
Flea-borne spotted fever (caused by Rickettsia felis): only emerged as a disease in humans in the 1990s, flea-borne spotted fever has since been discovered to be widely present in cat fleas around the world. Infection in humans leads to fever, rash, headache, abdominal pain, hearing loss and meningitis, while infection in dogs appears to produce fatigue, diarrhoea and vomiting without fever. Cats, however, have not been shown to demonstrate any symptoms.
Murine or endemic typhus (caused by Rickettsia typhi): although usually transmitted through the rat flea, Rickettsia typhi can also be transmitted via the cat flea. While rare, symptoms are similar to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).
Plague (caused by Yersinia pestis): Although believed to be a rare occurrence, the cat flea has been found to be capable of transmission of bubonic plague. Cats infected with Yersinia pestis usually present with bubonic plague, experiencing an extremely high fever, anorexia and swollen lymph glands and have high mortality rates. Dogs appear to be much less likely to develop clinical symptoms.

For trade media

For trade media

For trade media

Seresto provides groundbreaking parasite protection in cats and dogs (press release for trade media)

New treatment from Bayer Animal Healthoffers cats and dogs up to eight months’ protection from ticks and fleas in a single treatment

Birmingham, UK, 12 April 2012 – Bayer Animal Health today launched Seresto (known as Foresto in some European markets[1]), a groundbreaking tick and flea treatment for dogs and cats, to the scientific community at the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Conference in Birmingham, UK. The Seresto collar is the latest in a long line of innovative ectoparasiticides from one of the world’s leading animal health companies, with outstanding protection against fleas and ticks for up to eight months from a single application.

Seresto is the first new treatment in more than a decade to offer combined tick and flea protection for both cats and dogs. As the first product to offer repellency against ticks for cats as well as dogs, Seresto helps to reduce the risk of vector-borne disease transmission from these parasites.

Professor Leon Fourie specializing in arachnoentomology and parasitology, from Free State University in South Africa spoke of the launch of Seresto, “This is the first product we have seen that is able to provide consistent efficacy and safety for such a long period. With up to eight months of protection from each application, Seresto has the potential to establish a new standard in long-term protection from ticks and fleas for cats and dogs.”

Seresto represents a major advance in the development of ectoparasiticides. The unique polymer matrix of Seresto provides dose adjusted release of two proven active ingredients: imidacloprid, a very potent insecticide, and flumethrin, a highly effective acaricide. Research into the efficacy of this combination has demonstrated that these two active ingredients work synergistically to significantly increase their efficacyagainst fleas. Laboratory trials confirm that the combination of imidacloprid and flumethrin is 100 times more effective against fleas than imidacloprid alone. Thanks to its innovative polymer matrix composition, the migration of active ingredients from the Seresto collar matrix to the surface adjusts depending on the concentrations of active ingredients within the lipid layer on the pet´s skin. This ensures a steady, low-dose release profile, providing optimal protection for up to eight months.

The launch of Seresto comes as veterinarians worldwide are seeing changes in the patterns of parasite risk for pets. Maggie Fisher, a Veterinary Parasitology Consultant based in the UK, spoke of the impact of these changes, “Across Europe we’re seeing dramatic changes in the spread and activity of ticks and fleas in response to changes in climate and pet travel. We’re finding that ticks are active for much more of the year, and are appearing in areas where they would traditionally not be expected to be found. Fleas also are infesting pets all year round. And of course, with these parasites come the risk of diseases spread by their bites; we’re seeing more of these serious diseases, and seeing much greater variety in the types of disease than ever before. That’s why a number of expert groups recommend year-round ectoparasiticide protection for all cats and dogs, regardless of where they live.”

Clinical trials experience with Seresto has had a significant impact on many of the participating veterinarians. Dr. Adriana Estrela, a veterinary surgeon from Portugal and Clinical Director and Managing Partner of the Pardilhó Veterinary Clinic, spoke of her experience: “I haven’t recommended collars for a number of years. Spot-ons are excellent products; however, it is imperative that they are applied every month if they are to be fully effective. My clients live a busy lifestyle and don’t always remember to reapply on time. Even as little as a one week delay in application can result in reoccurring tick and flea infestations. I had my doubts about using a collar initially, but was impressed by the results we had with Seresto – we didn’t see any infestations at all during the trial. For our practice, Seresto has been a really significant advance, we’d recommend it to any of our clients looking for a simple, effective ectoparasiticide for their cat or dog.”
Due to its dose-adjusted release, the choice and concentration of the active ingredients and its unique depot formulation, Seresto is safe for pets, families and the environment if used according to the instructions. According to Dr.DorotheeStanneck, Clinical Development Manager for Seresto at Bayer Animal Health, it has been developed with a focus on minimising the risks traditionally associated with collars. “Seresto has been designed in such a way that in the unlikely event of a cat becoming trapped, the cat’s own strength is sufficient to trigger a quick release mechanism that gives way when a force of 50 newtons (the same force exerted by a 2kg cat jumping 40cm in height) is applied to the collar. If for any reasons the ratchet release mechanism is blocked, the collar has a second layer of protection through a break-away area that will snap once a force of 80 newtons is applied.”

The European launch of Seresto was announced on the first day of the WSAVA[2]/FECAVA[3]/BSAVA[4] World Congress 2012, the largest international veterinary event ever held in the UK. One of the main themes of the congress is the ‘One Health’ initiative, a global campaign highlighting the need for collaboration and cooperation between human and veterinary medicine in order to improve the lives of all species.

“The timing of the announcement of Seresto was particularly welcome given the focus of this year’s congress” said Michael Day, Professor of Veterinary Pathology from the University of Bristol, UK, Junior Vice President of BSAVA and Chair of the WSAVA Scientific and One Health Committees. “We are seeing an unprecedented demand for simple, effective, long-term ectoparasiticides treatment options to manage the increasing risks to animal and human health associated with vector-borne diseases. While traditional options can be very effective, there is a clear need for longer-acting, more user-friendly approaches to the vital task of ectoparasite control. In my view, the development of Seresto gives veterinarians and pet owners not just another effective ectoparasiticide, but a genuine advance in the delivery of long-term protection that they are able to fit and forget, enabling them to protect their pet and their community.”

Online media centre
For access to supporting media materials, please visit:
http://www.epresspack.net/seresto/

About Seresto
Seresto is available as a collar in two sizes and can be worn by both cats and dogs. It has been designed to stay securely in place for an up to eight month period while ensuring safety from strangulation.

Seresto is unique in including both a leading insecticide, imidacloprid, and the highly effective acaricide flumethrin. These compounds are embedded in an innovative waterproof, odour-free polymer matrix. The collar’s materials ensure that the active ingredients are consistently released over an up to eight month period at an effective, low dose.

About ticks and fleas
Tick and flea infestations are more than just a nuisance; they also pose a very real threat to both pets and humans as they can transmit serious diseases. These diseases have become more frequently diagnosed and more geographically widespread, increasing both the danger posed to pets and the risk posed to humans.

Fleas are the most common ectoparasite in cats and dogs and are capable of spreading and/or causing a number of diseases that affect cats, dogs and even humans, including tapeworm, flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), bartonellosis and endemic typhus. Diseases spread by ticks include anaplasmosis, Lyme borreliosis, babesiosis, tick-borne encephalitis and ehrlichiosis, many of which can cause serious diseases in humans. In dogs, many of these diseases can be lethal and cannot yet be treated, meaning that prevention is key to their management. The most effective disease prevention technique is to stop parasites from biting, removing any possibility of disease transmission.

The ability of a treatment to prevent biting is commonly referred to as ‘repellency’ (anti-feeding) – products that offer repellency, like Seresto, have been demonstrated in field studies to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 17.2 billion (2011), is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 55,700 employees (Dec 31, 2011) and is represented in more than 100 countries. Find more information at

With a turnover of EUR 1.190 million (2011) Bayer HealthCare’s Animal Health Division is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of veterinary drugs. The division manufactures and markets more than 100 different veterinary drugs and care products for livestock and companion animals.