Fluralaner: A Game Changer for Controlling House Mosquitoes

Fluralaner, a popular treatment for chickens, is proving to be an effective way to combat the southern house mosquito, scientifically known as Culex quinquefasciatus. This is important because these mosquitoes carry diseases like the West Nile virus, which can be harmful to humans. Scientists tested three different treatments: two types of systemic pesticides (ivermectin and fluralaner), and one anthelmintic (fenbendazole). They found that chickens treated with fluralaner killed more mosquitoes than untreated chickens. This effect was seen three and seven days after treatment, but not after 14, 26, or 56 days. The other treatments didn't have the same effect. This means fluralaner could be a useful tool to reduce the mosquito population and lower the risk of people getting sick from mosquito-borne diseases.