FLEAS Flashcards
Meaning of Siphonaptera
wingless tube or pipe
Most common and prevalent
Ctenochepalides felis
Causes severe irritation in animal and people
Responsible for flea allergy dermatitis
Vector and IH of ?
Thypus-like rickettsiae, Bartonella sp and IH for filarid and cestode
Common species
C. Felis, C. canis, Pulex simulans (small mammals) and Echidnophaga gallinacea (poultry sticktight flea)
Morphology?
Length
Flattened in what way?
Adapted for?
Have wing or not?
2-3 mm long
Laterally compressed
Adapted for jumping and clinging to host
Wingless
Differences and similirities between ctenochepalides felis (Cat) and ctenocephalides canis (dog)
C.canis has head that is strongly rounded anteriorly while C. felis has a more elongated head
C. canis has hind tibia with eight setae bearing notches while C.felis has hind tibia with six setae bearing notches
Both possess pronatal and genal combs ( ctenidia- more prominent in. b)
Diagnosis of fleas
- History and clinical sign
- Flea comb, vacuum with filter paper/gauze to demonstrate flea/flea feces
- Intradermal skin testing (FAD)
Pathogenic significance
- Intermediate host - dipylidium and dipitalonema
- Flea allergy dermatitis - in dogs and cats - hypersensitive reaction
- Pruritis and self inflicted damage - severe irritation and ras - biting by host - self injury
- Secondary bacterial infection
- Anemia
- Heavy infestation significant bloof loss - fatal iron- defeciency anemia in very young animals
- Report - anemia in poultry, cats, goats, calves and sheep
Disease transmission
Murine tyhus - Ricketssia typhi and Ricketssia felis
Filarid nematode of dogs , dipetalonema reconditum
Dipylidium caninum, cestode - cysticercoid in C felis, C. canis
Flea larvae ingest the eggs og tapeworm
Dogs and cats - ingest infected fleas when grooming
Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Flea inject salive that contins histamine-like compounds, enzymes, polypeptides and amino acids - induce Type 1, Type IV and basophil hypersensitivity
Immediate (15 min) or delayed (24-48 hours) reactions
Causes pruritus that is intense on entire body
Clinical signs of FAD
Papulocrustous lesions at lower back, tail head, and posterior and inner thighs.
Affected dogs become restless and uncomfortable, spending too much time scratching, licking, rubbing, chewing and even nibbling at the skin.
Hair may be stained brown from the licking and is often broken off.
Epidemiological Triad
Host
More cats are infested than dogs
Host specific - dont like equines, ruminants/pigs
- majority not strictly host specific but tend to favour some host (Fertility F)
- Many birds spp are nests specific (ground nests, shrubs, trees)
Some species tend to show site specificity (legs, wing, neck ETC) Man’s lice
Host location
- ability to locate a few cm
- usually do not stray far from hosts habitat
1) Host odour - attractrant/repellant
2) Warmth and CO2 - hot water bottle covered with bird - collection
Epidemiological Triad
Agent
C. felis is more common
Dont require close contact for transmission
Survive off host for long time
Able to jump in finding host
Both sexes are blood feeders
Non host specific - host preference
IH - Tapeworm Dipylidium caninum
Vector of Bartonella henselae, Rickettsia felis
Epidemiological Triad
Environment
24 celcius and 75% humidity -optimal development
Less tha 50 % humidity - unable to survive
Available all year round
Flea control
Host
Adults on body + eggs in hair or feathers
