Agent for controlling animal diseases caused by parasites

A method for controlling animal diseases caused by parasites, which comprises administering to an animal in need thereof a composition comprising an imidazole compound represented by the formula (I):

• wherein R1 is a cyano group, a
• group or a
• group {wherein each of R5 and R6 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may be substituted, an alkenyl group which may be substituted, an alkynyl group which may be substituted, a cycloalkyl group which may be substituted, an aryl group which may be substituted, or a —CO—R7 group (wherein R7 is an alkyl group which may be substituted, an alkoxy group which may be substituted, or an aryl group which may be substituted)},
• each of R2 and R3 is a hydrogen atom;
• a halogen atom;
• a hydroxyl group;
• a nitro group;
• a cyano group;
• a thiocyanate group;
• a trimethylsilyl group;
• an alkyl group which may be substituted;
• a cycloalkyl group which may be substituted;
• an alkenyl group which may be substituted;
• a cycloalkenyl group which may be substituted;
• an alkynyl group which may be substituted;
• an alkoxy group which may be substituted;
• a cycloalkyloxy group which may be substituted;
• an alkenyloxy group which may be substituted;
• a cycloalkenyloxy group which may be substituted;
• an alkynyloxy group which may be substituted;
• an aryl group which may be substituted;
• an aryloxy group which may be substituted;
• a 5- or 6-membered aromatic heterocyclic group which may be substituted;
• a —SOnR8 group {wherein R8 is an alkyl group which may be substituted;
• a cycloalkyl group which may be substituted;
• an alkenyl group which may be substituted;
• a cycloalkenyl group which may be substituted;
• an alkynyl group which may be substituted;
• an aryl group which may be substituted;
• a pyridyl group which may be substituted, or a —N(R9)R10 group (wherein each of R9 and R10 is an alkyl group), and n is an integer of from 0 to 2};
• or a
• group (wherein W1 is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, W2 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or —NH—, m is an integer of from 0 to 1, and R11 is an alkyl group which may be substituted;
• or an aryl group which may be substituted),
• R4 is an alkyl group which may be substituted;
• a cycloalkyl group which may be substituted;
• an aryl group which may be substituted;
• a thienyl group which may be substituted;
• a furyl group which may be substituted;
• or a —N(R12)R13 group (wherein each of R12 and R13 is a hydrogen atom;
• an alkyl group which may be substituted;
• or an alkenyl group which may be substituted, or they form, together with the adjacent nitrogen atom, a 5- to 7-membered saturated heterocyclic group, provided that R12 and R13 are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms), and
• provided that R2 and R3 are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms.