ACTIVE INGREDIENTS in antiparasitic veterinary drugs for use on CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, PIG, POULTRY, HORSES, DOGS and CATS

What is an active ingredient?

An active ingredient in a pharmaceutical or veterinary medicine is the chemical compound or substance that is biologically active. In a parasiticide the active ingredient is the substance that kills the parasites. The active ingredient is also called "active substance" or "active compound".

Besides the biologically active ingredient all veterinary parasiticides contain other biologically inactive or inert ingredients, also called excipients.

Altogether the active ingredients and the inert ingredients build the formulation. Each veterinary (or human) medicine or parasiticide has its own formulation, i.e. its own recipe or composition. For many products, not only the composition is important, but also the way and sequence the ingredients are mixed together during manufacturing.

Particular medicines or pesticides sometimes contain a mixture of different active ingredients. This is usually done to target more parasites species, i.e. to ensure a broader spectrum of activity.

The amount of active ingredient in a particular product varies a lot. It ranges between 1% or less (e.g. injectables with macrocyclic lactones) and more than 50% (e.g. some feed additives or some concentrates for spraying or dipping, etc).

The inert ingredients that can make up to 99% and more of the finished product, are often not only just passive ingredients (e.g. water as solvent in a liquid product, or a cellulose derivatives as binder in a tablet), but accomplish several functions that can be essential for product efficacy, safety and quality. Such inert ingredients can be e.g.

• Dispersants: keep particles suspended and prevent their settling or clogging.
• Emulsifiers: encourage the suspension of one liquid in another one (e.g. oil in water).
• Stabilizers: prevent chemical reactions between the ingredients.
• Preservatives: prevent the growth of undesired microorganisms in the product.
• etc.

Inert ingredients can also have a significant influence on whether a finished parasiticide is irritant to the eyes or the skin, flammable, explosive, corrosive, etc.

Naming of Active Ingredients

Active ingredients are mostly refered to with their "common name". It is useful to know  that all active ingredients have also an official "chemical name", which itself varies according to several international bodies. Just one example:

• Common name: cypermethrin
• Chemical name: according to IUPAC: (RS)-alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (1RS) cis-trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropane carboxylate
• Chemical name: according to CAS: (RS)-cyano (3-phenoxyphenyl) methyl (1RS) - cis-trans-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropane carboxylate
• Other chemical names: (according to www.pesticideinfo.org) 02171 (CA DPR Chem Code Text), 02171 (CA DPR Chem Code), 109704 (US EPA PC Code Text), 109704 (US EPA PC Code), 2171 (CA DPR Chem Code), 2171 (CA DPR Chem Code), 52315-07-8 (CAS number), 52315078 (CAS number without hyphens), 597 (PDP Code), 66841-24-5 (CAS number), 66841245, 66841245 (CAS number without hyphens), Cipermetrin, Cipermetrina, Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid, 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-, (R)-cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl ester, (1R, 3S)-  Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid, 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-, cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl ester, Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid, 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-, cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl ester, 1R-1alpha(R*),3beta-, cypermethin , Cypermethrin, Cypermethrine , d-trans-.beta.Cypermethrin

In most brands, the product labels indicate the content of active ingredient using the "common name". However, there are some smart manufacturers that don't use the "common name" in the product label but one of the numberless "chemical names". Maybe it's their way of implementing the number 4 marketing rule: "be different". Rule numbers 1 to 3 "be new", "be superior" and "be unique" are quite hard to achieve with generic active ingredients, which is what >95% of the antiparasitic brands contain.

Active ingredients with parasiticidal efficacy for veterinary use

This section of includes TECHNICAL DATASHEETS of the active ingredients most widely used in veterinary antiparasitics, i.e. against external parasites (e.g. flies, fleas, ticks, mites, etc.) and/or parasitic worms (roundworms, tapeworms, flukes) of livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, pig, poultry) and pets (dogs and cats).

LEGEND. (1) Ecto = insects, ticks, mites, etc.; Endo = roundworms, tapeworms, flukes • (2) L=Livestock; P=Pets (C=Crop Protection; Hy=Domestic and Public Hygiene; H=Human;) • (3) Decade + Company that introduced it.

Name	Chemical class	Spectrum (1)	Usage (2)	Introduction (3)
Abamectin	Macrocyclic Lactone	Ecto  +  Endo	L, P (C, Hy)	1980s Am. Cyanamid, Shell
Afoxolaner	Isoxazoline	Ecto	P	2010s Merial (Du Pont)
Albendazole	Benzimidazole	Endo	L, P (H)	1970s Smith-Kline
Alphamethrin	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1980s ?
Amitraz	Amidine	Ecto	L, P (C)	1970s Boots & Co, Camco
Azamethiphos	Organophosphate	Ecto	L	1970s Ciba-Geigy
Carbaryl	Organophosphate	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1950s Union Carbide
Chlorfenvinphos	Organophosphate	Ecto	L, P (C)	1970s Ciba-Geigy, Shell
Chlorpyrifos	Organophosphate	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1970s Dow Chemical
Clorsulon	Sulphonamide	Ecto  +  Endo	L	1970s MS&D Agvet
Closantel	Salicylanilides	Ecto  +  Endo	L	1970s Janssen
Coumaphos	Organophosphate	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1950s Bayer
Cyfluthrin	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1980s Bayer
Cyhalothrin	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1980s ICI
Cymiazol	Amidine	Ecto	L	1970s Ciba-Geigy
Cypermethrin	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1970s Ciba-Geigy, ICI, Shell
Cyphenothrin	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	P (C, Hy)	1980s Sumitomo
Cyromazine	Development Inhibitor	Ecto	L (C, Hy)	1970s Ciba-Geigy
DDVP =Diclorvos	Organophosphate	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1960s Bayer, Ciba-Geigy, Shell
Deltamethrin	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1970s Roussel Uclaf
Diazinon = Dympilate	Organophosphate	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1950s Ciba-Geigy
Derquantel	Spiroindole	Endo	L	2010s Zoetis
Dichlorvos =DDVP	Organophosphate	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1960s Bayer, Ciba-Geigy, Shell
Dicyclanil	Development Inhibitor	Ecto	L	1990s Novartis
Diflubenzuron	Development Inhibitor	Ecto	L (C, Hy)	1970s Philips-Duphar
Dinotefuran	Neonicotinoid	Ecto	P (C, Hy)	1990s Mitsui
Doramectin	Macrocyclic Lactone	Ecto  +  Endo	L	1990s Pfizer
Dympilate =Diazinon	Organophosphate	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1950s Ciba-Geigy
Emodepside	Depsipeptide	Endo	P	1990s Bayer
Eprinomectin	Macrocyclic Lactone	Ecto  +  Endo	L	1990s MS&D Agvet
Epsiprantel	Isoquinoline	Endo	P	1990s Pfizer
Ethion	Organophosphate	L	L, P (C, Hy)	1950s FMC
Etofenprox	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	P (C, Hy)	1980s Mitsui
Febantel	Pro-Benzimidazole	Endo	L, P	1970s Bayer
Fenbendazole	Benzimidazole	Endo	L, P	1970s Hoechst
Fenitrothion	Organophosphate	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1960s Bayer, Sumitomo
Fenthion	Organophosphate	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1960s Bayer
Fenvalerate	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	L (C, Hy)	1970s Shell, Sumitomo
Fipronil	Phenylpyrazole	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1990s Rhône-Mérieux
Fluazuron	Development Inhibitor	Ecto	L	1990s Novartis
Flubendazole	Benzimidazole	Endo	L, P (H)	1970s Janssen
Flumethrin	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	L, P	1970s Bayer
Fluralaner	Isoxazoline	Ecto	P	2010s MSD AH (Nissan)
Imidacloprid	Neonicotinoid	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1990s Bayer
Indoxacarb	Oxadiazine	Ecto	P (C, Hy)	2000s DuPont
Ivermectin	Macr. Lactone	Ecto  +  Endo	L, P (C, Hy, H)	1980s MS&D Agvet
Levamisole	Imidazothiazole	Endo	L, P (H)	1960s Janssen
Lindane	Organochlorine	Ecto	P (C, Hy)	1940s ICI
Lufenuron	Development Inhibitor	Ecto	P (C)	1990s Ciba-Geigy
Malathion	Organophosphate	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1950s Am. Cyanamid
Mebendazole	Benzimidazole	Endo	L, P (H)	1970s Janssen
Metaflumizone	Semicarbazone	Ecto	P (C, Hy)	2000s BASF
Methomyl	Carbamate	Ecto	(C, Hy)	1970s Du Pont
Methoprene	Development Inhibitor	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1970s Zoecon
Metrifonate =Triclorphon	Organophosphate	Ecto  +  Endo	L, P (C, Hy)	1960s Bayer
Milbemycin oxime	Macrocyclic Lactone	Ecto  +  Endo	P	1990s Ciba-Geigy
Monepantel	Amino-acetonitrile der.	Endo	L	2000s Novartis
Morantel	Tetra-hydropyrimidine	Endo	L, P	1960s Pfizer
Moxidectin	Macrocyclic Lactone	Ecto  +  Endo	L, P	1990s Am. Cyanamid
Netobimin	Pro-Benzimidazole	Endo	L	1980s Shering Plough
Niclosamide	Salicylanilide	Endo	L, P (H)	1960s Bayer
Nitenpyram	Neonicotinoid	Ecto	P (C)	1990s Takeda, Novartis
Nitroscanate	Isothiocyanate	Endo	P	1970s Ciba-Geigy
Nitroxinil	Halogenated phenol	Endo	L	1960s May & Baker
Oxantel	Tetra-hydropyrimidine	Endo	P (H)	1970s Pfizer
Oxfendazole	Benzimidazole	Endo	L, P (H)	1970s Wellcome, Syntex
Oxibendazole	Benzimidazole	Endo	L, P	1970s Smith Kline
Oxyclozanide	Salicylanilide	Endo	L	1960s ICI
Permethrin	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy, H)	1970s FMC, ICI, Shell, Sumit.
Phenothrin	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	P (C, Hy, H)	1980s Sumitomo
Phosmet	Organophosphate	Ecto	L (C)	1960s Stauffer
Phoxim	Organophosphate	Ecto	L (C)	1960s Bayer
Piperazine	Piperazine derivative	Endo	L, P (H)	1950s Shering
Praziquantel	Isoquinoline	Endo	L, P	1970s Bayer
Propoxur	Carbamate	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	1960s Bayer
Pyrantel	Tetra-hydropyrimidine	Endo	L, P (H)	1960s Pfizer
Pyriprole	Phenylpyrazole	Ecto	P	2000s Novartis
Pyriproxyfen	Development Inhibitor	Ecto	P (C, Hy)	1980s Sumitomo
Rafoxanide	Salicylanilide	Endo	L	1970s MS&D Agvet
Ricobendazole	Benzimidazole	Endo	L, P	1980s Robert Young
Rotenone	Natural insecticide	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy)	~1900 Traditional
Sarolaner	Isoxazoline	Ecto	P	2010s Zoetis
Selamectin	Macrocyclic Lactone	Ecto  +  Endo	P	1990s Pfizer
Spinetoram	Spinosyns	Ecto	P (C)	2000s Dow
Spinosad	Spinosyns	Ecto	L, P (C, Hy, H)	1990s Eli-Lilly
Tetramethrin	Synthetic Pyrethroid	Ecto	P (C, Hy)	1960s Sumitomo
Tetramisole	Imidazothiazole	Endo	L, P	1960s Janssen
Thiabendazole	Benzimidazole	Endo	L, P (C)	1960s MS&D Agvet
Thiamethoxam	Neonicotinoid	Ecto	L (C, Hy)	1990s Novartis
Thiophanate	Pro-Benzimidazole	Endo	L (C)	1970s May & Baker
Trichlorfon = Metrifonate	Organophosphate	Ecto  +  Endo	L, P (C, Hy)	1960s Bayer
Triclabendazole	Benzimidazole	Endo	L (H)	1970s Ciba-Geigy
Triflumuron	Development Inhibitor	Ecto	L (C, Hy)	1980s Bayer