Lufenuron for Ringworm in Cats

Lufenuron is a generic medication used to treat flea infestations in cats and dogs. Another proposed use for lufenuron is in the treatment of ringworm fungal infections in cats, but the effectiveness of using the drug for this purpose is widely debated.

  1. Function

    • Lufenuron prevents fungal cells from producing a substance known as chitlin, which is a building block for the wall that surrounds and protects the cells. Because of this, some scientists have set out to test whether lufenuron is effective at killing the fungus which causes ringworm.

    Clinical Evidence

    • A 2000 study conducted at Ben Ziony's Animal Hospitals in Jerusalem, Israel, and published in the "American Journal of Veterinary Medicine" found that lufenuron effectively eliminated ringworm infections in cats.

    Controversy

    • A 2004 study conducted at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the journal "Veterinary Dermatology" showed that lufenuron did not improve the recovery rate of cats infected with ringworm when compared to cats who were not treated with the medication. The results of this study called into question the use of lufenuron for ringworm infections.

    Time Frame

    • After the results of the University of Wisconsin-Madison study, veterinarians largely stopped using lufenuron on its own for the treatment of ringworm; however, some veterinarians still prescribe a dose of the drug every 30 days as a combination therapy with another drug like terbinafine taken daily, according to TheVeterinarian.com.au.

    Side Effects

    • Lufenuron has the potential to cause a number of unpleasant, but not typically life-threatening side effects like vomiting, lethargy, itchy skin and diarrhea, reports PetEducation.com.