Flea Research Articles

Survey of Bartonella species in cats from Abruzzo region, Italy.

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a zoonotic disease, caused predominantly by Bartonella henselae and transmitted to humans through a scratch or bite of the cat. Cat represents the principal reservoir and healthy carrier of Bartonella, which is mainly transmitted, among cats, by the flea Ctenocephalides felis. During 2014, fifty‑two samples of whole blood and sera were collected randomly from cats in Abruzzo region and were examined by real-time PCR and IFAT tests, respectively. Seven samples out of fifty‑two (13.5%) resulted positive for Bartonella spp. in both tests, while six specimens (11.5%) resulted real-time PCR negative but IgG positive; thirty‑nine were instead both real-time PCR and IFAT negative (75%). Sequence analysis of a fragment of DNA identified B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae in four and in two real‑time PCR positive samples, respectively.

Ectoparasites of the Nile Rat, Arvicanthis niloticus from Shendi area, Sudan

This study investigated the ectoparasites of the Nile Rat, Arvicanthis niloticus in Shendi area, River Nile State, Sudan. Eighty nine A. niloticus were collected for the first time from the horticultural fields of Shendi, between January to June 2018, and their entire fur was combed thoroughly, using a fine-tooth comb. Any removed ectoparasites were relaxed, mounted and examined under a microscope for morphological identification. Forty two (47.2%) of the collected rats was found infested, with an overall mean intensity of 13.4 (range 2–67) ectoparasites per an infested rat; 10 different species of ectoparasites were identified, including: 2 species of flea – Xenopsylla cheopis, Leptopsylla segnis; 3 species of louse – Polyplax spinulosa, P. abyssinica, P. serrata; a species of tick – Rhipicephalus sp.; 4 species of mite – Laelaps agilis, L. nuttalli, Ornitonyssus bacoti, Dermanyssuss gallinae. The most prevalent ectoparasite found was the flea Xenopsylla cheopis, 23.6%, followed by the mite Laelaps nuttalli, 10.1%, while the least was the mite Ornitonyssus bacoti, 1.1%. Significantly higher prevalence and intensity of infestation was found among male rats. Likewise, older rats significantly harbored a higher prevalence and intensity of infestation.

Feline bartonellosis key issues and possible vectors

Bartonellosis is a disease caused by Bartonella spp. microorganisms which belong to the Rickettsiales order. This disease is a zoonosis, B. henselae, whose primary reservoir is the cat, which in humans causes a cat-scratch disease. In infected cats, symptoms such as fever, lymphedema, reproduction disorders, myocarditis, rhinotracheitis, gingivitis, and arthritis may be observed. Bartonella appears to be transmitted among cats and dogs in vivo exclusively by arthropod vectors (excepting perinatal transmission), not by biting or scratching. In the absence of these vectors, the disease does not spread. On the other hand, the disease can be spread to humans by bites and scratches, and it is highly likely that it is spread by arthropod vectors as well. This review presents a potential role of ticks and fleas in the transmission of bartonellosis. Clinicians should be aware that a common illness, such as infection with Bartonella, can be transmitted by arthropod vectors, and that a history of animal scratches or bites is not necessary for disease transmission.

Fleas of dog and cat: species, biology and flea-borne diseases.

Ectoparasitic insects play a major role in veterinary medicine. Fleas infest man and animals and are the most frequent external parasites of companion animals worldwide. Some species are known to be vectors of zoonotic pathogens. Dogs and cats may play an important role either as reservoir of some of the pathogens or as transport vehicles for infected eas between their natural reservoirs and human beings, thus playing a crucial step in the transmission cycle of ea-borne diseases. This article reviews relevant literature on morphology, classi cation, host speci city, geographical distribution, and seasonality of eas infesting dogs and cats in order to improve their timely identi cation, prevention, and control.

Variation in the susceptibility of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) genotypes to okra mosaic virus and Podagrica species under field conditions

A total of 21 okra (Abelmoschus escuentus L. Moench) genotypes were screened for their reactions against okra mosaic disease (OMD) and flea beetles (Podagrica species) infestations in field trials which were conducted from May to October, 2015 (wet season) and November 2015 to March 2016 (dry season), in order to identify sources of resistance and or tolerance. The trials were laid out in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Field resistance in the genotypes was assessed at 2, 6 and 10 weeks after planting using a 0 to 5 visual scale based on disease symptoms (where 1 denotes no symptom and 5, very severe symptom). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the presence of Okra mosaic virus (OkMV) in the okra genotypes. Populations of the flea beetle (Podagrica spp.), the vector of OkMV, and the associated leaf and fruit damage were also assessed. All the okra genotypes exhibited a varying range of disease symptoms and the flea beetle infestations, and lacked immunity. Genotypes GH2052, GH2063, GH2026, GH3760, GH5302, GH5332, GH5793, GH6105 and UCCC6 exhibited mild symptoms of OMD, and were less susceptible to flea beetle infestation and associated leaf damage during both seasons. Using ELISA, OkMV was detected in all the 21 genotypes. The mean number of fruits per plant and the mean fruit yield (t ha-1) differed significantly (P<0.05) among the okra genotypes. Genotype GH5332 had the highest fruit yield of 11.88 t ha-1 followed by genotype GH6105 (9.34 t ha-1). Percentage fruit damage due to the flea beetle infestation differed significantly among the okra genotypes, ranging between 43.7 and 91.2% and from 47 to 84% in both trials respectively. Key words: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), insecticides, Abelmoschus esculentus, okra mosaic disease, Podagrica species.

The development of pharyngeal taste buds in Hucho taimen (Pallas, 1773) larvae

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the development of pharyngeal taste buds (TBs) and first feeding of Hucho taimen. Larvae were fed with live food (water flea and tubifex) for 8 weeks. TBs of larval pharynx were histologically examined using light microscopy during the rearing experiment. The results showed that the first few TBs primordia were visible within the pharynx 27 days after hatch (DAH), which coincides with the onset of feeding, and the first few TBs with open receptor areas appear 45 DAH. TBs of pharynx were well developed 76 DAH. The number and size of TBs were quantified during larval development. The average number of pharynx was 8.63±1.15, 11.29±0.50, 14.50±1.06, and 17.78±0.47 TBs at 27, 36, 45, and 76 DAH, respectively. The number of TBs increased in both the upper and lower pharynx. The ratio of height to width of TBs showed an increase tendency, ranging from 0.81 to 1.11. The height of TBs showed an increase tendency after 29 DAH during the development. However, the width of TBs exhibited a low at 35 DAH. In conclusion, the development of pharyngeal TBs coincides with the first feeding, and this should lead to a better understanding of improvement of larval rearing in H. taimen hatcheries.

Parasites of sheep herding dogs in central Germany.

This paper reports on endoparasite infections diagnosed in 2012 by standard coproscopical techniques and coproantigen Giardia ELISA in 165 dogs used for sheep herding in 36 farms in central Germany. The overall prevalence of dogs with evidence of endoparasite infections was 27.3% (95% CI 20.6-34.7). The most frequently identified faecal forms were those of ascarids (Toxocara, 6.7%; Toxascaris 3.6%), hookworms (5.5%) and taeniid cestodes (4.2%), followed by those of Trichuris whipworms (3.0%), Capillaria aerophila (1.8%), Angiostrongylus and Crenosoma lungworms (1.2% each) and Cystoisospora canis coccidians (0.6%). Molecular identification demonstrated the seven dogs shedding taeniid eggs positive for Taenia (T.) species tapeworms (five, T. hydatigena; one, T. ovis; one Taenia sp.). Screening of the faeces with the coproantigen ELISA revealed Giardia specific antigen in 5.5% of the samples. The majority of the dogs had evidence of single endoparasite infections (22.4%) while evidence for infection with two or three parasites concurrently was found in six (3.6%) and two (1.2%) of the dogs, respectively. Dogs ≤ 1 year (n = 19) were parasitized more frequently (p < 0.05) with overall gastrointestinal parasites (63.2% vs. 20.5%), ascarids (36.8% vs. 6.8%) and Giardia spp. (21.1% vs. 3.4%) than older dogs (n = 146). Dogs which had been wormed within six months of examination tested less frequently positive for gastrointestinal helminths compared to dogs not wormed (11.1% vs. 25.0%; p = 0.0567). In addition, ear swabs taken from 43 sheep dogs in 2012 were examined, and Otodectes cynotis mites were extracted from one dog. Identification of ectoparasites collected by full body search and combing from 113 sheep dogs in the years 2011 to 2013 revealed infestation of fleas and ticks (each up to five specimens per dog) on 13 and 108 dogs, respectively, with nine dogs carrying both fleas and ticks. Archaeopsylla erinacei, Ctenocephalides (C) canis, C. felis and Pulex irritans fleas were identified from one, three, two and eleven dogs, respectively. Dermacentor reticulatus, Ixodes (I.) hexagonus and I. ricinus ticks were isolated from 16, eight and 95 dogs, respectively.

Human Plague: The Pest Still with Us

Human plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is transmitted by exposure to rodents, particularly through bites of rodent fleas. It is endemic in the

A survey of Pulex irritans (Linnaeus 1758, Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) infestation in sheep and residential areas in Kurdistan Province, Iran

Fleas are the most common and important external parasites worldwide and also serves as vectors of various pathogens for humans and animals. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of Pulex irritants in sheep herds and residential areas of villages in Kurdsitan Province, Iran. A total of 2,900 sheep were randomly selected from 48 flocks and 630 residential areas of 18 villages from November 2011 to October 2012. The collected fleas were identified by key fleas. Results revealed that 259 (8.93%) sheep from 31 flocks (65.51%) and 31 (4.92%) residential areas were infested with P. irritants. Of 1323 P. irritants, 503/1323 (38.02%) and 820/1323 (61.98%) were male and female, respectively. Of these, 950 (72%) were from animals and 373 (28%) were from residential areas. The highest infection rate was found in age group less than one year (30.93%, 29/92). The body distribution of all collected flea was found to be from back part of the body (100%). Seasonal distribution of P. irritants in examined animals had significant difference. Geographical distribution of P. irritants indicated that the highest infection rate was found in Marab region (6.03%). The highest flea infestation was also found in summer (41.8%) with a total number of 450 fleas out of 1323 (34.01%). From the results of this study, it was concluded that P. irritants was a prevalent flea in sheep and residential areas in the region and may serve as an important vector for pathogenic agents.

20대 소비자에게 벼룩시장 및 중고품의 의미는 무엇인가?

본 연구에서는 중노년의 장소로 알려진 황학동/동묘 벼룩시장을 20대 소비자가 왜 찾으며 이 시장에서 어떠한 경험을 하는지, 그리고 20대 소비자에게 벼룩시장 및 중고품의 의미는 무엇인지를 살펴보고자 한다. 이를 위해 황학동/동묘 벼룩 시장을 방문, 중고품을 구매하는 20대 소비자 8명과의 개인면접을 실시하였다. 연구결과 20대 소비자는 황학동/동묘 벼 룩시장에서 자신이 어렸을 때 가지고 놀거나 사용하던 물건이지만 이제는 현대화된 시장에서 쉽게 발견할 수 없는 물건들 을 통해 과거를 추억하는데, 이들에게 추억 ‘돋는’ 물건은 도스형 컴퓨터, 디스켓, 게임팩, 장난감, 워크맨, 비디오테이프 등으로 다양하였다. 그런데 이들이 시장의 물건을 보며 느끼는 기억은 과거에 의존하고 있지만 기억을 통해 상기되는 과 거의 것들은 현재의 상태를 지시하고 있었다. 즉 한국사회의 20대로서 자신들이 직면한 불안한 현실보다 위협적이지 않 고 편안했던 과거를 돌아볼 수 있는 곳으로 황학동/동묘 벼룩시장을 경험하며 승자독식의 현대사회에서 시골생활의 낭만 을 느낄 수 있는 힐링의 장소로 황학동/동묘 벼룩시장에 대한 가치를 부여하고 있었다. 또한 마구잡이로 쌓여있는 물건들, 갈 때마다 바뀌는 물건들, 허를 찌르는 물건들에 대한 호기심을 이야기하는 등 ‘탐험가’로서의 소비자의 모습을 띠고 있었 으며 자신이 원하는 물건을 저렴하게 구매하는 이른바 ‘득템’의 즐거움을 경험한다. 이들은 중고품에 대한 거부감을 전혀 가지지 않으며, 오히려 보물찾기, 빈티지 등의 용어를 사용하며 세월의 흔적을 느낄 수 있는 중고품에 매력을 느낀다고 하 였다. 현대화된 백화점과 쇼핑몰, 합리화/대형화된 유통점과 편의점 등에 보다 익숙한 20대 소비자들이 오히려 허름하고 낡은 벼룩시장의 날 것 그대로의 모습에 의미를 부여하고 있다는 것은 매우 흥미로운 지점이다. 결국 중고품과 벼룩시장 에서의 소비경험을 이해하기 위해서는 중고품과 벼룩시장이 가지는 기본적인 경제적 기능 이외 사회문화적 가치까지 재 고할 필요가 있음을 보여주고 있었다.

A survey of external parasites of free-range chickens and their ethno-veterinary control remedies used by resource-limited farmers in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

In most rural areas, chicken infestation with external parasites poses a challenge to their productivity and associated benefits. External parasites cause anemia, thus reducing growth, egg production and may lead to death. They are mainly controlled by commercial remedies, although resource-limited farmers resort to using alternative remedies which are available and affordable. This study was conducted to document external parasites of free-range chickens and their ethno-veterinary control remedies used by resource-limited farmers. A questionnaire survey was conducted amongst 93 households, 3 of which were herbalists, in Eastern Cape, South Africa. The farmers considered several external parasites to be a problem: mites (79.6%) stick tight fleas (64.5%), lice (10.8%) and ticks (6.5%). Various ethno-veterinary remedies were used to control the parasites, which included ash (28%), madubula (26.7%) and Jeyes fluid (10%) both of which are comprised of 13% carbolic acid, paraffin (8.4%), plants (5.2%), used engine oil (2.8%), dip wash (2.5%), doom spray (d-phenothrin 0.4%), blue death (permethrin 0.03%) (1.9%), diesel (1.9%), smoke (0.9%) and a few (4.2%) used conventional insecticides namely karbadust (carbarly 5%) and mercaptothion 5%). A small proportion (7.5%) does not use either of the remedies. The materials used by resource-limited farmers in controlling parasites were identified and documented.

Molecular evidence of Leishmania infantum in Ixodes ricinus ticks from dogs and cats, in Italy.

Leishmaniosis, caused by Leishmania infantum, is an endemic zoonosis in the Mediterranean basin. To date, phlebotomine sand flies are the only accepted biological vectors of Leishmania parasites to dogs and humans. The absence of the primary vector in autochthonous Leishmania outbreaks suggests a possible role of fleas or ticks as alternative vectors. In this study, 119 ticks were collected between August 2007-June 2008 and between March 2010-October 2010 from various animal species and humans living in Italian areas where canine leishmaniosis is endemic (i.e. rural areas of the North) and were tested for the presence of L. infantum DNA. Nine (7.5%) out of 119 ticks resulted PCR positive. All ticks were morphologically identified as Ixodes ricinus ticks, 3 from 1 cat, 6 from 4 dogs. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of L. infantum DNA in ticks from cat, suggesting that the debate about the epidemiological role of ticks in canine leishmaniosis might be extended to feline leishmaniosis.

Retraction: Case study: three dimensional analysis of the swimming behaviour of daphnia magna exposed to nanosized titanium dioxide

Nanosized titanium dioxide particles (nTiO 2 ) tend to adhere to biological surfaces and thus we hypothesize that they effect on swimming behavior of aquatic animal. In this article, we exposed water fleas Daphnia magna to 5 and 20 mg/L nTiO 2 for 96h showed a significantly reduced growth rate compared to a 1 mg/L treatment and the control group. Using three- dimensional video observations of swimming trajectories, we observed a treatment dependent swarming behavior of daphnia magna and mean velocities that increased with increasing body length of daphnia magna. Spectral analysis of swimming velocities revealed that high frequency variance, which we consider as a measure of swimming activities, was significantly reduced in the 5- 20 mg/L treatments.

Application of Best Subsets Regression on the risk classification for Spermophilus Dauricus Focus

To study the risk classification of animal plague in Spermophilus Dauricus Focus, using the Best Subsets Regression (BSR) model. Matlab, BSR and exponential smoothing were employed to develop and evaluate a model for risk classification as well as to forecast plague epidemics at the Spermophilus Dauricus Focus. Data was based upon the Inner Mongolia surveillance programs. This model involved 7 risk factors, including density of Spermophilus dauricus, percentage of hosts infested, host flea index, percentage of nests infested, nest flea index, percentage of runways infested, and runway flea index. Forecasting values of the classification model(CM)were calculated and grouped into 3 risk levels. Values that over 2/3 of the CM would indicate the existence of potential epidemics while those below 1/3 would indicate that there were no risk for epidemics but when values that were in between would indicate that there exist for high risk. Annually, during the observation period in the Inner Mongolia Spermophilus Dauricus Foci, the detection of Yersinia pestis gave a risk rating value of 1 which stood for existing epidemics, while nil detection rate generated a 'zero' value which representing the situation of non-epidemic. The overall plague epidemics forecasting surveillance programs in 2012 at the Spermophilus Dauricus Foci indicated that no active plague was observed. When the forecasting values became over 2/3, combinations of all the risk factors would achieve the consistency rates of 100%. When the forecasting values were below 1/3, combinations of at least the first 4 factors could also achieve the consistency rates of 100%. However, when the forecasting values fell in between, combinations of at least the first 4 factors would achieve the consistency rates of around 50%. Results from our study showed that plague would not be active to become epidemic, in 2012.

Evaluation of the efficacy of some plant leaf extracts on insect pest infestation, growth and yield of water melon in Okigwe Southeastern Nigeria.

Field experiments were carried out at the National Horticultural Research Institute, Okigwe, Imo State during the late cropping of 2012 and was repeated at the same cropping season in 2013 to evaluate the efficacies of some ethanol plant leaf extracts namely: garlic ( Allium sativum ), Neem ( Azadiracta indica), Ocimum gratissimum, Moringa olifera and tithonia on the insect pests of cucumber. The treatments consisted of three levels of concentration of each of the five extracts namely 50%, 75% and 100% as well as distilled water, concentrated water and synthetic insecticide cypermetrine at12.5% E.C. There were eighteen treatments for each season which were replicated three times in a split-plot experimented design. Results of the studies showed the identified commonest insect pest of the crop in the 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons to include flea beetles ( Cerotoma ruficornis ), cucumber beetle, Leptoglossus autralis and Diabrotica spp . The results also demonstrated that all the tested plant extracts at bi-weekly spraying interval were efficacious in controlling the insect pests. The efficacy of Allium sativum at 100% concentration was highest of all the plant extracts where 0.84kg/plot and1.05kg/plot were recorded in 2012 and 2013 seasons respectively. This was followed by 100% concentration of Azadirachta indica , 100% ocimum , 100% Moringa olifera and tithonia in that order. The efficacy of the cypermethrine (synthetic insecticidial check) was highest having performed best. Significant difference (P < 0.05) existed between the untreated (control) and all the treated plots in insect population and yield. However, the tested plant extracts at the three different concentration of 50%, 75% and 100% in both seasons proved efficacious in the control of the insect pests of cucumber as78.2% reduction in insect population, 79/8% reduction in leaf damage and 79.3% marketable fruit number were recorded in 2012 and 82.7% reduction in insect population, 76.4% reduction in leaf damage and 85.9% marketable fruit number in 2013 cropping season.

Constructing the Family in Republican China: Shandong, 1944

This research is based on a short hand-written genealogy (shou chaoben 手抄本) of the kind that are appearing in flea markets in China these days. I surmise it was written in Shandong in 1944. Although its entries are brief, an analysis reveals much about the family, including female family members (often omitted from family genealogies), inter-family marriages practiced over hundreds of years, status markers used by the family such as the taking of second wives, the prevalence of patriarchal views. The Japanese occupation of Shandong in 1944 plays a role in my analysis of how this manuscript was compiled.

Community structure of Great Gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) parasitic fleas in Junggar Basin focus and related epizootiological characteristics on plague

To understand the community structure of Rhombomys opimus parasitic fleas in the natural plague focus in Junggar Basin, so as to explain the relationship between the community structure and the prevalence of animal plague in this area. The body fleas of R.opimus which were collected in 2005-2010 from the Junggar Basin was analysed by community ecology method, an each clustered flea community was compared with information of pathogenic and serological indicators of animal plague epidemic by statistic method. The community structure of R. opimus parasitic fleas included 19 species and was very complicated, with only 3 were identified as 'common' species but the others belonged to 'rare' species. Both the average richness and diversity of flea community were higher, as 1.66 and 1.5556, with dominance not obvious (0.332) and the homogeneity as moderate (0.5283). The community structure of R. opimus parasitic fleas could be changed by the following factors as: the rates of flea parasitic/flea index and the proportions of main fleas etc. The flea community could be divided into 5 clusters according to the above said elements. All these data showed that the fleas of R. opimus parasitic fleas possess the nature of multi-parasitism. The community of R. opimus parasitic fleas existed heterogeneous of geographic region, and this phenomenon associated with the animal plague epidemic strength.

Rickettsial Meningoencephalitis : An under diagnosed entity in developing countries

Rickettsial infections form a diverse group of infections cause by obligate intracellular coccobacilli. Children less than 15 years are known to be the commonest group affected. The disease which is transmitted by vector such as the tick, mite and flea is divided into 3 biogroups – scrub typhus, typhus and the spotted fever groups. We present the profile of a case series of children diagnosed as rickettsial meningoencephalitis, who were referred to our hospital with a provisional diagnosis of either pyogenic meningitis, viral encephalitis or tubercular meningitis. Of the 122 children admitted with rickettsial fever during the study period, 31% had features of meningoencephalitis. The most common age of presentation was 5 years and above. The common clinical manifestations in these children included fever (100%), headache (100%), maculopapular rash (68.4%), seizures (94.7%) and altered sensorium (89.4%). Investigations revealed polymorphonuclear leucocytosis with relative monocytosis, hyponatremia with CSF findings suggestive of elevated counts and raised protein. All children were treated with doxycycline and azithromycin for 7 days with complete recovery. We aim to create more awareness among clinicians with regard to this treatable cause of neuroinfection which if diagnosed and treated early, have a relatively good prognosis.

ADDITIONAL RECORDS OF FLEAS (SIPHONAPTERA) ON WILD RODENTS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF ISRAEL

ABSTRACT Results, of a survey of fleas on small rodents of southern Israel conducted from 1992 to 1998 are presented. From 18 localities, 14 rodent species were sampled, yielding 14 species of fleas. Nosopsyllus iranus theodori is reported from Gerbillus gerbillus, Gerbillus henleyi, and Mus musculus in Israel for the first time. Additional records of Coptopsylla africana in Israel substantiate the presence of this species in Israel. Other distributional records and host preferences are reported and discussed.

When is fall feeding by flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp., Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on canola (Brassica napus L.) a problem?

Soroka, J. J. and L. F. Grenkow. 2012. When is fall feeding by flea beetles (Phyllotretaspp., Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on canola (Brassica napusL.) a problem? Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 97-107. Two cultivars of Brassica napus canola were seeded in mid-May and early June in three field experiments in each of 3 yr near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to determine the effects of late-season flea beetle feeding on seed yields. In the first experiment, canola was sprayed with insecticide late in the summer to eliminate naturally-infesting flea beetles. In the second, 1×1×1.5 m screen cages were placed over early- and late-seeded canola at flowering and infested with flea beetles as canola matured. In the third investigation, sleeve cages were placed over individual plants and infested with 100 flea beetles. Flea beetles had no detrimental effects on early-seeded canola in any experiment, but did affect seed yields of late-seeded plots in some trials. Over two cultivars in 1 year, late-seeded plants in cube cages infest...