Frontline®

The previously mentioned substances for the treatment of mites are relatively old, and science has not stopped progressing. One of the more recent products is called Frontline® (effective ingredient: Fipronil). Once again, it must be considered that Frontline® is not officially recommended for treating reptiles.

Even though it is effective in many species of reptiles, the exact compatibility in individual species or specimens cannot be predicted. We found the way that the substance eliminates the mites to be rather interesting. Fipronil is effective on contact, hindering the GABA (=Gamma-Amino-Butyric acid) receptor in the target organism.

What does that mean? While many toxins cause paralysis in the central nervous system, Frontline® does the exact opposite: It causes an over-stimulation. Simply put, you could say that, following contact with Fipronil, the mites are permanently bouncing off the walls at top speed in the red zone of the speed gauge until they die from exhaustion.

As with Dichlorvos, the veteran of chemical warfare against mites, Frontline® also has no effects on the eggs.

Snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis)
photo: Kalle Berglof, Sweden

But now to the application of Fipronil:

Dr. Petra Kölle from the Institute for Zoology, Fish Biology and Fish Diseases at the University of Munich (Germany) recommends in a publication („kleintier“, Enke Verlag 2/00) to spray the fluid on a disposable glove, and to gently rub the animal with it. According to Dr. Kölle, all reptiles that have been treated with it have so far tolerated the spray.

Much more thorough is the method of treatment suggested by Ian Calvert of the Zetland Veterinary Group BRISTOL. Unfortunately, this suggested method is rather impractical for the most part, maybe even impossible to execute.

For instance, Calvert recommends heating the enclosure to 95 degree Centigrade (203° Fahrenheit) for 3 or 4 hours (and this repeatedly in 3 to 4 week intervals), after being thoroughly sprayed with Frontline®. Since most boid enclosures are unlikely to fit into the stove or microwave, this thermal warfare recommended by Calvert proves to be rather difficult to implement.

We therefore limit this to those parts that seem to be of practical use:

The snake is to be weighted. Specimens of more than 500g of bodyweight should be treated with 6 pumps per kg of bodyweight from the 100ml bottle (of which one pump spray goes behind the head and the cloaca, respectively). It is recommended to protect the eyes of the animal with an eye crème. In animals with less than 500g of bodyweight, the spray solution should be thinned out with alcohol at a 1:1 ratio.

This is done as follows: 0.5ml of Frontline® (=1 pump) is combined with 0.5ml of alcohol. You apply 0.1ml of the well-shaken solution per 20g of bodyweight of the snake. The solution can be dripped over the snake, directly applied with gloves, paper towels, cotton balls, or q-tips.

You should consider working with minor dosages in the first application, especially when treating young animals. Since alcohols steam damages the lungs, the boa cannot be placed into the enclosure or into a poorly ventilated container. For the temporary housing over the next few hours, a wide-mesh cloth bag is suitable (Note by the authors: The room, in which you are letting the snake air out, must contain suitable temperatures).

The effect that Frontline® has on the fat layer has not been tested. Damage to the epidermal fat layer can increase the fluid loss by up to 15 times. It therefore has to be made certain that the boa has access to a high humidity hide spot, following the treatment. Ian Calvert recommends repeating the application three to four times in 3 to 4 week intervals.

According to this suggested treatment method, the application of Fipronil should not be considered or should be rescheduled in any of the following cases:

• in generally sick animals
• in snakes that are currently being treated with fluoquinolones (e.g. Enrofloxacin = Baytril®)
• in boas that are currently breeding
• in snakes that are in shed

The fact that this has repeatedly resulted in breathing problems and even fatalities following the application in neonate boas is quite alarming, and utmost caution is therefore highly recommended!

With Dichlorvos and Fipronil, we have introduced you to the best suitable methods for the elimination of snake mites, in our opinion. There are other methods, however, whose effectiveness is either dubious or requires medical knowledge for proper application.

Ridding the Enclosure of Mites

While both snake and enclosure are practically rid of mites in one application of Dichlorvos, the Frontline® treatment requires additional measures for the enclosure. The more complex an enclosure is designed, the more difficult these measures are to implement. You should definitely consider this aspect before turning your enclosure into a miniature version of the tropical rainforest.

First, the entire substrate must be discarded right away. Next, every piece of cage furniture that is not somehow permanently installed is to be thrown out as well; clay pots and ceramic water containers are to be heat treated in the oven.

The spouse may vehemently protest against placing a mite-infested ceramic bowl in the oven, but no worries - once the spouse has furiously left the house after a colorful debate to run to her (recently divorced) girlfriend, you can comfortably fill up the oven after all.

Afterwards, you mist the enclosure thoroughly with 100% isopropyl alcohol from the pharmacy. A spray bottle, like the ones used for watering plants, is best suitable for this. The alcohol kills the mites (even drink-proof specimens) as well as their eggs. After a period of several hours, the enclosure has to be aired out thoroughly and cleaned with clear water. Finally, the snake can move back in.