Number Of Fleas Research Articles

Physiological justification of diagnostic and therapeutic measures for allergic flea dermatitis

In modern conditions, the percentage of allergic diseases increases every year. A sufficient number of studies have been devoted to the study of various aspects of the pathology under consideration in small pets, but its solution will contribute to a comfortable life for the patient. According to the conducted research, it was found that among dermatological diseases, there were such as allergic: in cats 22.2%, in dogs 15.5%; parasitic in cats 13.3%, in dogs 10.5%; fungal in cats 6.3%, in dogs 7.2%, bacterial in cats 5.8%, in dogs 6.4%; thermal in cats 5.2%, in dogs 2.3%, chemical in cats 5.3%, in dogs 2.2%. Flea allergic dermatitis is a hypersensitivity reaction to one or more components of fleas, especially to allergens contained in their saliva. Flea dermatitis is most often recorded in late summer, which corresponds to the peak of flea numbers. The purpose of flea control is to eliminate them on pets, eliminate existing contamination in the environment and prevent re-infection. The main symptoms indicating allergic flea dermatitis: severe itching; numerous wounds due to scratching; hair falling out, the appearance of bald patches on the animal's body, ulcers covered with crusts; lack of appetite, vomiting; inappropriate behavior, irritability. When diagnosing allergic flea dermatitis, a number of factors were taken into account, including anamnesis, clinical signs, results of a wet test for the presence of fleas or their excrement, cytology of skin scraping, as well as the exclusion of other causes of dermatological diseases including atopic dermatitis and food allergies. The clinical signs of allergic flea dermatitis are variable and depend on the duration of the disease, as well as the degree of hypersensitivity and the consequences of previous or current treatment.

Investigating the Status of Contamination With Pulex irritans and Xenopsylla cheopis in Pets, Guard and Stray Dogs in Tabriz, Iran

Introduction: Fleas are the most prevalent ectoparasites indoors and outdoors due to their high reproductive rate, ability to feed on different hosts, and the unpleasant effects of their bites. Methods: This study was conducted on 360 dogs in and around Tabriz to find the rate and type of human flea contamination in these dogs, which were divided into three categories: pets, guards, and stray dogs. After fleas were identified in the dogs’ skin, they were taken with glue and fixed on the slide with glue. When the number of fleas was large, the captured fleas were transported to a test tube and treated with 70% alcohol. Dehydration of fleas was performed with ascending percentages of ethanol from 50 to 100% absolute and was kept inside each alcohol percentage for 10 to 20 minutes. Results: Regarding the dogs studied in this research, the rate of actual contamination in guard dogs was 76.67% (92 dogs were contaminated with flea feces). However, 74 dogs (about 15%) were infested with different fleas. Unfortunately, the rate of contamination in stray dogs was 100%. The rate of real contamination based on the separation of fleas and flea excrement from the body of this group of dogs was equal. The rate of flea infestation in pet dogs was 14 out of 100 dogs, representing 14% contamination. Conclusion: It should be acknowledged that, unfortunately, flea infestation is expected in the region’s dogs, depending on the type of dogs kept. Infestation with these insidious skin parasites with varying rates and symptoms is common, which, in addition to the economic damage of spending time and money on medicine for disease in animals, causes environmental pollution, increases the likelihood of disease transmission by these parasites, and increases the possibility of human infection and disease transmission from them to humans, as well as environmental pollution.

CONTROL OF THE OF MAIN PESTS OF WINTER OILSEED RAPE IN THE CONDITIONS OF VINNYTSIA REGION

This article highlights the issue of improved and substantiated elements of the winter oilseed rape protection system against main pests in the Vinnitsa region, which is based on clarification of the species composition of phytophagy in winter oilseed rape, their harmfulness and limiting their numbers when applying seed treatment with insecticides and poisoners. spraying crops with drugs during the growing season of the crop. The species composition of the harmful entomofauna of winter oilseed rape was clarified and 22 species of insects belonging to 6 orders and 16 families were identified. The largest species diversity is characterized by the number of Coleoptera, the share of species of which was 60,2% of the total. The effectiveness of modern insecticides of poisoners against pests of winter oilseed rape and optimized methods of their application were evaluated. It has been established that the highest technical efficiency of insecticide poisoners is noted in versions with poisoners with mixtures of Force 200 SC + Cruiser 350 FS, consumption rate of 1,0+2,0 l/t. and Cruiser 350 FS, w.s.c. at the full consumption rate of 4,0 l/t is a highly effective method of controlling the number of cruciferous fleas. Initial efficiency during the first three days after emergence was 92,0% and 90,5%. During the growing season of winter rape during the testing of insecticides, the highest technical efficiency – 93,3% for spraying rape seedlings against cruciferous fleas was shown by Confidor 20%, w.s.c. Confidor, 20% of the national capital, it provided technical efficiency at the level of 95,3%. This ensured a yield of 3.46 t/ha, and the yield increase was conventionally 0,53 t/ha of the crop.

Alternative lifestyles: A plague persistence hypothesis

AbstractSeveral explanations have been posited for how the plague bacterium (Yersinia pestis) reemerges during sylvatic cycles within the same foci over many years, and often without direct evidence of host die‐offs. One prevalent view is that transmission‐optimized Y. pestis bacteria, exhibiting epizootic/enzootic behavior, almost continually replicate and survive through repeated, linked, host‐centered propagation events. These bacteria, we will refer to as “r‐pestis” type ecotype(s), represent a limited number of phenotypic lineages exhibiting optimal transmissibility and high rates of reproduction. These attributes, it is thought, assure their durability through time. For continuous r‐pestis type expansions to be successful, adequate numbers of fleas and hosts must become infected to produce massive numbers of bacteria. In the process, host and flea numbers decline as they succumb to plague. Here we hypothesize that r‐pestis population expansions seed the environment and confront a unique, highly competitive local milieu, where natural selection favors new ecotypes that incorporate a range of emergent adaptive survival strategies. These newly adapted survivors we recognize as a range of “K‐pestis” ecotypes with greater durability and lower reproduction rates. These emergent K‐pestis forms may arise in succession or coexist for varying periods of time with r‐pestis ecotypes, and with other K‐pestis ecotypes. Among K‐pestis ecotypes, we hypothesize that through adaptive radiations, some persist within flea life stages, soil, organic waste, amoebae, plants, carcasses, hosts, or within niches yet to be characterized. In some settings, after a long quiet period, when favorable, K‐pestis bacteria may trigger a singular event where an r‐pestis transmission stream emerges precipitating another enzootic/epizootic progression. If this hypothesis withstands rigorous testing, then Y. pestis might represent an even more formidable, enduring, and adaptable foe, where unforeseen local events could trigger new epidemic and epizootic/enzootic events threatening humans and populations of other mammals, including those of conservation concern.

The combined effect of bromadiolone and ivermectin (iBr) in controlling both rodents and their fleas.

Rodent pests not only cause severe agricultural loss but also spread zoonotic pathogens to human beings. Anticoagulant rodenticides are widely used to decrease the population densities of rodents but often lead to the spillover of ectoparasites because fleas and ticks may gather on surviving rodents. Therefore, it is necessary to kill fleas and ticks before culling rodents to minimize the risk of pathogen transmission. In this study, we used a mixture of ivermectin (an antiparasitic drug) and bromadiolone (an anticoagulant rodenticide) to control both rodent and flea/tick abundances. We found that in a laboratory test, 0.01% ivermectin bait was not lethal for greater long-tailed hamsters after 7 days of treatment, while 0.1% ivermectin bait was lethal for approximately 33% of treated rodents. In a field test, bait containing 0.001%, 0.005%, 0.01%, and 0.05% ivermectin decreased the number of fleas per vole of Brandt's voles to 0.42, 0.22, 0.12, and 0.2, respectively, compared with 0.77 in the control group, indicating that 0.01% ivermectin bait performed best in removing fleas. In another laboratory test, bait containing a 0.01% ivermectin and 0.005% bromadiolone mixture caused the death of all voles within 6-14 days after the intake of the bait. In the field test, the bait containing 0.01% ivermectin and 0.005% bromadiolone reduced the average number of fleas per vole to 0.35, which was significantly lower than the 0.77 of the control group. Our results indicate that a 0.01% ivermectin and 0.005% bromadiolone mixture could be used to control both rodents and fleas to minimize the spillover risk of disease transmission when using traditional rodenticides.

Ectoparasites associated with the Bushveld gerbil (Gerbilliscus leucogaster) and the role of the host and habitat in shaping ectoparasite diversity and infestations.

Rodents are known hosts for various ectoparasite taxa such as fleas, lice, ticks and mites. South Africa is recognized for its animal diversity, yet little is published about the parasite diversity associated with wild rodent species. By focusing on a wildlife-human/domestic animal interface, the study aims to record ectoparasite diversity and levels of infestations of the Bushveld gerbil, Gerbilliscus leucogaster, and to establish the relationship between ectoparasite infestation parameters and host- and habitat factors. Rodents (n = 127) were trapped in 2 habitat types (natural and agricultural) during 2014–2020. More than 6500 individuals of 32 epifaunistic species represented by 21 genera and belonging to 5 taxonomic groups (fleas, sucking lice, ticks, mesostigmatan mites and trombiculid mites) were collected. Mesostigmatan mites and lice were the most abundant and fleas and mesostigmatan mites the most prevalent groups. Flea and mesostigmatan mite numbers and mesostigmatan mite species richness was significantly higher on reproductively active male than female rodents. Only ticks were significantly associated with habitat type, with significantly higher tick numbers and more tick species on rodents in the natural compared to the agricultural habitat. We conclude that the level of infestation by ectoparasites closely associated with the host (fleas and mites) was affected by host-associated factors, while infestation by ectoparasite that spend most of their life in the external environment (ticks) was affected by habitat type.

Assessment of the effect of contemporary climate warming on the small ground squirrel fleas population dynamics in Northwestern region of Caspian Depression

The dominant zonal rodent species in the steppes and semi-deserts of the Caspian Lowland is the small ground squirrel Spermophilus pygmaeus (Pallas, 1778). Flea species, which are its specific ectoparasites, play a significant role in the occurrence of plague epizootics in this area. The impact of global climate warming on the population dynamics of the fleas of the small ground squirrel in the northern deserts on the territory of the Caspian Lowland is discussed in this article. The literature sources and extensive archival materials were used for the analysis. The Ilmen-Pridelta landscape region (southwest of the Astrakhan Region), which is most fully characterized through the necessary quantitative indicators, was chosen as a model territory. The data of the annual spring-summer registration of indices of the flea abundance in wool and at the entrances of the burrows of the small ground squirrel, as well as his abundance rates (number of specimens per 1 ha), average monthly air temperature values reported by meteorological stations in Astrakhan over the past 70 years were statistically processed. The article reveals the mechanism of the influence of contemporary climate warming on the dynamics of the number of fleas of the small ground squirrel in the territory of the Caspian Lowland over the period of 1950-2021.

Determination of the effect of collars containing 10% w/w imidacloprid and 4.5% w/w flumethrin (Seresto®) on the incidence of Leishmania and other canine vector-borne pathogen infections in Greece

BackgroundThe objective of this field study was to assess the effect of treating a considerable portion of a dog population naturally exposed to canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBPs) in endemic areas with a 10% w/w imidacloprid/4.5% w/w flumethrin collar (Seresto®) on the transmission of CVBPs and the resulting incidence of infection.MethodsA total of 479 dogs from two sites were enrolled in the study. Collars were placed on all dogs continuously for 21 months, with replacement of the collar every 7 months. All dogs were examined, including body weight and blood/conjunctival swab collections, every 7 months. Serum samples were analysed for the presence of antibodies against Leishmania infantum, Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. PCR assays were also performed on blood samples and conjunctival swab collected from the dogs for the presence of L. infantum, and on blood samples only for the presence of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. Sand flies were collected, identified to species level and molecularly tested for L. infantum throughout two vector activity seasons.ResultsThe results showed that the Seresto collar was safe with continuous use. At study inclusion, 419, 370 and 453 dogs tested negative for L. infantum, Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp., respectively (353 dogs tested negative for any pathogen). Overall, 90.2% of the dogs were protected from L. infantum infection on both sites combined. The entomological survey confirmed the presence of competent vectors of L. infantum at all monitored locations, namely the sand flies Phlebotomus neglectus and Phlebotomus tobbi, both of which are regarded as the most important competent vectors in the Mediterranean basin. All captured sand flies tested negative for L. infantum. Protection against ticks and fleas was high, with only two dogs showing a low number of ticks and seven dogs having low numbers of fleas at single evaluation time points. Across the entire study population, a number of dogs became infected with tick-transmitted pathogens, but prevention of transmission was 93% for E. canis and 87.2% for Anaplasma spp. when all cases from both sites were combined.ConclusionsThe Seresto® (10% w/w imidacloprid/4.5% w/w flumethrin) collar significantly reduced the risk of CVBP transmission when compared to previously observed incidences of CVBP infections in two highly endemic areas under field conditions.Graphical

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ ЧУВСТВИТЕЛЬНОСТИ БЛОХ К ПРЕПАРАТАМ НА ОСНОВЕ ХЛОРПИРИФОСА И ЗЕТАЦИПЕРМЕТРИНА

The results of the study of the sensitivity of fleas – vectors of the plague microbe to insecticidal preparations based on chlorpyrifos and zetacypermethrin are presented. Studies were carried out on imago fleas of three laboratory cultures: Xenopsylla cheopis Rothschild, 1903 (Siphonaptera, Pulicidae), Citellophilus tesquorum Wagner, 1898 and Nosopsyllus laeviceps Wagner, 1909, (Siphonaptera, Ceratophyllidae). During the experiment, it was found that preparations based on zetacypermethrin and chlorpyrifos were highly insecticidal for Xenopsylla cheopis (S-XC), Citellophilus tesquorum (S-CT) and Nosopsyllus laeviceps (S-NL) fleas. The diagnostic concentrations found for insecticides using sensitive populations of S-shutters (S-XC, S-CT, and S-NL) were determined. The results obtained may be in demand in practice by specialists who carry out work on the regulation of flea numbers during field and village pest control in natural plague foci in the North Caucasus. Key words: fleas, insecticide, plague, natural focus.

TREATMENT OF CEREALS AND THEIR SEEDS WITH ACETAMIPRID BASED PREPARATIONS – AN EFFECTIVE METHOD OF PROTECTION FROM PESTS

The paper presents the results of evaluating the efficiency of insecticides for 2016–2021 containing acetamiprid as an active ingredient (a.i.) and its combination with compounds from other chemical groups in protecting cereals from dominant pests. It’s established that pre-sowing treatment of seeds with an insecticidal preparation contributed to a decrease in the damage caused by wireworm and cereal flies to winter wheat up to 87,0 % and up to 69,9 %, to spring barley – up to 91,5 % and up to 80,9 %, respectively; insecticidal and fungicidal preparation used in winter cereals – up to 93,1 % and in spring cereals – up to 91,4 %. The results of production experiments on winter wheat and triticale demonstrated a high efficiency of King Combi, SC in reducing the damage caused by larvae of ground beetle (by 85,9–90,2 %) and cutworm (by 80,9–84,1 %) and the number of phytophages – by 73,3 % and 90,0 % respectively.
 When vegetating plants are treated with two-component insecticides containing acetamiprid, the damage caused by corn flies to spring cereals stems decreased up to 93,3 %, the number of fleas – up to 93,8 %. The biological effect in reducing the number of cereal leaf beetle larvae in winter crops with the use of the studied toxicants was 80,3–100 %, in spring crops – 81,0–100 %, the number of plant lice amounted to 98,8 % in spring barley and up to 99, 4 % – in spring wheat.

Drivers of the Ectoparasite Community and Co-Infection Patterns in Rural and Urban Burrowing Owls.

Simple SummaryWe analyzed the ectoparasite community of a monomorphic and non-social bird, the burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia, breeding in rural and urban habitats. Such community was composed by two lice, one mite and one flea species. Rural individuals had more fleas and less mites than urban ones. Adult birds harbored less ectoparasites than young ones and females harbored more lice than males. The presence of lice was positively related to the presence of fleas. On the contrary, the presence of mites was negatively related to the presence of fleas and lice. The study of parasite communities in urban and rural populations of the same species can shed light on how urban stressor factors impact the physiology of wildlife inhabiting cities and, therefore, the host-parasite relationships.Urbanization creates new ecological conditions that can affect biodiversity at all levels, including the diversity and prevalence of parasites of species that may occupy these environments. However, few studies have compared bird–ectoparasite interactions between urban and rural individuals. Here, we analyze the ectoparasite community and co-infection patterns of urban and rural burrowing owls, Athene cunicularia, to assess the influence of host traits (i.e., sex, age, and weight), and environmental factors (i.e., number of conspecifics per nest, habitat type and aridity) on its composition. Ectoparasites of burrowing owls included two lice, one flea, and one mite. The overall prevalence for mites, lice and fleas was 1.75%, 8.76% and 3.50%, respectively. A clear pattern of co-infection was detected between mites and fleas and, to less extent, between mites and lice. Adult owls harbored fewer ectoparasites than nestlings, and adult females harbored more lice than males. Our results also show that mite and flea numbers were higher when more conspecifics cohabited the same burrow, while lice showed the opposite pattern. Rural individuals showed higher flea parasitism and lower mite parasitism than urban birds. Moreover, mite numbers were negatively correlated with aridity and host weight. Although the ectoparasitic load of burrowing owls appears to be influenced by individual age, sex, number of conspecifics per nest, and habitat characteristics, the pattern of co-infection found among ectoparasites could also be mediated by unexplored factors such as host immune response, which deserves further research.

Detection of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. in cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) collected from free-roaming domestic cats in southeastern Georgia, USA.

The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is a competent vector of numerous bacterial pathogens in the genera Bartonella and Rickettsia. In the United States, free-roaming domestic cats (Felis catus) increase the risk of exposure to C. felis for humans and their companion animals. In collaboration with a trap-neuter-return program, we collected fleas from 283 feral/stray cats in southeastern Georgia between May and July of 2020. A total of 3,643 flea specimens were collected, and C. felis was the only flea species recovered from all cats sampled. The mean number of fleas per cat host was highest in the month of June when compared to May and July, and higher in juvenile cats (< 1year) than the adults (≥ 1year). Real-time PCR assays were used to test a subset of the collected fleas (n=468) for the presence of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. DNA. Among those flea pools tested, 35.2% were positive for genus-specific citrate synthase gene of Bartonella, 16.5% were positive for the genus-specific 17-kDa protein antigen gene of Rickettsia, and none were positive for the species-specific outer membrane protein B gene of Rickettsia typhi. The identification of potential flea-borne pathogens was more frequent from the subset of C. felis collected in May, and female cats had more Bartonella-positive fleas and less Rickettsia-positive fleas than male cats. Overall, the present study provides valuable insights into the frequency of C. felis from outdoor community cats in southeastern Georgia, and highlights the possible risk for human exposure to potential flea-borne pathogens.

Effects of nest-box environment on fledgling success rate and pathogen load.

Nest boxes have been used for many decades as tools for conservation and to study avian population dynamics. Plastic is increasingly used as a material for nest boxes, but no studies have investigated effects of this different material. Two consecutive studies were conducted to investigate effects of nest-box environment on nidicolous parasites, bacteria and fungi, as well as nest success, in blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus and great tits Parus major. The first compared microclimate and parasite and pathogen load in plastic and wooden nest boxes. The second tested the nest protection hypothesis – that birds naturally incorporate aromatic herbs into nests to decrease nest parasites and pathogens – by comparing parasite and pathogen load in plastic nest boxes to which aromatic or non-aromatic plant material was added. No significant difference in nest-box temperature or relative humidity was found between plastic and wooden boxes. Wooden boxes, however, contained 30-fold higher numbers of fleas and a higher total bacterial load on chicks. Fledging success for blue tit broods was significantly higher in wooden boxes. Parasites and bacteria did not decrease by the inclusion of aromatic herbs. The results increase the evidence base for nest-box design in support of plastic, which can provide an appropriate alternative nest-box material to wood, with apparently no difference in microclimate and no increase in the load of measured parasites and pathogens.

An assessment of ectoparasites across highland and lowland populations of Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri): Implications for genetic rescue translocations.

Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) is a nocturnal arboreal marsupial with a restricted range centered on the Victorian Central Highlands, south-eastern Australia. Most populations inhabit wet montane ash forest and subalpine woodland, with one notable exception - a small, outlying and genetically-distinct lowland population inhabiting swamp forest at Yellingbo, Victoria. The species has been listed as critically endangered since 2015. Translocations are the mainstay of critical genetic rescue and this study explores the ectoparasites that are ‘along for the ride’ during translocation activities. Ectoparasites (133 fleas, 15 ticks and 76 mites) were collected opportunistically from 24 Leadbeater's possum colonies during population monitoring and genetic sampling across the lowland and highland populations. The composition of the flea assemblage varied by habitat type. Significantly greater numbers of the general marsupial fleas Acanthopsylla r. rothschildii. and Choristopsylla tristis (as a proportion of total flea numbers) were detected in lowland habitats, compared to highland habitats (Fishers exact test, P < 0.0001). Two host-specific flea species, Stephanocircus domrowi and Wurunjerria warnekei were detected only on possums in highland habitats. As a proportion of total fleas this was significantly different to possums in lowland habitats (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.0042 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Wurunjerria warnekei was suspected to be extinct prior to this study. Ticks (Ixodes tasmanii, n = 15) and mites (Haemdoelaps cleptus, n = 47 and H. anticlea, n = 29) have been identified in Leadbeater's possums historically. The possible causes of the different flea assemblages may be environmental/climatic, or due to the historic geographic division between highland and lowland animals. The planned translocations of highland individuals to lowland habitats will expose lowland individuals to novel species of previously exclusively highland fleas with unknown indirect consequences, thus careful monitoring will be required to manage any potential risks.

Efficacy of oral fluralaner (Bravecto) against Tunga penetrans in dogs: A negative control, randomized field study in an endemic community in Brazil.

The sand flea Tunga penetrans is one of the zoonotic agents of tungiasis, a parasitic skin disease of humans and animals. The dog is one of its main reservoirs. This negatively controlled, randomized, double-masked clinical trial evaluated the therapeutic and residual efficacy of fluralaner for treatment of dogs naturally infested with T. penetrans. Sixty-two dogs from an endemically affected community in Brazil were randomly assigned to either receive oral fluralaner (Bravecto chewable tablets) at a dose of 25 to 56 mg fluralaner/kg body weight, or no treatment (31 dogs per group). Dogs were clinically examined using a severity score for acute canine tungiasis (SCADT), parasitological examinations as defined by the Fortaleza classification, and pictures of lesions on days 0 (inclusion and treatment), 7 ± 2, 14 ± 2, 21 ± 2, 28 ± 2, 60 ± 7, 90 ± 7, 120 ± 7 and 150 ± 7. The percentage of parasite-free dogs after treatment was >90% between days 14 and 90 post-treatment with 100% efficacy on study days 21, 28 and 60. Sand flea counts on fluralaner treated dogs were significantly lower (p<0.025) than control dogs on all counts from day 7 to 120. The number of live sand fleas on treated dogs was reduced by > 90% on day 7, > 95% on days 14 and 90, and 100% from day 21 to 60, and with a significant difference between groups from day 7 to 120. From day 7 to day 120, mean SCADT scores were significantly reduced in treated dogs with a mean of 0.10 compared to 1.54 on day 120 in untreated dogs. Therefore, a single oral fluralaner administration is effective for treating and achieving long lasting (> 12 weeks) prevention for tungiasis in dogs.

Change in beak overhangs of cliff swallows over 40 years: Partly a response to parasites?

Some birds exhibit a maxillary overhang, in which the tip of the upper beak projects beyond the lower mandible and may curve downward. The overhang is thought to help control ectoparasites on the feathers. Little is known about the extent to which the maxillary overhang varies spatially or temporally within populations of the same species. The colonial cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) has relatively recently shifted to almost exclusive use of artificial structures such as bridges and highway culverts for nesting and consequently has been exposed to higher levels of parasitism than on its ancestral cliff nesting sites. We examined whether increased ectoparasitism may have favored recent changes in the extent of the maxillary overhang. Using a specimen collection of cliff swallows from western Nebraska, USA, spanning 40 years and field data on live birds, we found that the extent of the maxillary overhang increased across years in a nonlinear way, peaking in the late 2000’s, and varied inversely with cliff swallow colony size for unknown reasons. The number of fleas on nestling cliff swallows declined in general over this period. Those birds with perceptible overhangs had fewer swallow bugs on the outside of their nest, but they did not have higher nesting success than birds with no overhangs. The intraspecific variation in the maxillary overhang in cliff swallows was partly consistent with it having a functional role in combatting ectoparasites. The temporal increase in the extent of the overhang may be a response by cliff swallows to their relatively recent increased exposure to parasitism. Our results demonstrate that this avian morphological trait can change rapidly over time.

Comparative effectiveness of flea allergic dermatitis treatment regimens in dogs and cats

The article discusses the influence of external factors on the degree of risk of infection with flea allergic dermatitis among pets. Studied modern veterinary drugs that can be used to treat and prevent flea allergic dermatitis caused by flea lesions. Also, effective regimens for the treatment and prevention of flea allergic dermatitis have been drawn up. It was found that the preparation in the form of a collar is less effective than preparations in the form of "Spot-on". A flea collar is also less effective in dogs with thick coats. The drug in the form of "Spot-on" contact action begins to act after 12 hours, in contrast to the collar, which begins to act in full force after two days. The peculiarity of the form of release of the drug "Spot-on" allows it to evenly disperse on the skin of the animal and prevent a flea bite. This leads to rapid relief of itching and excludes new scratching. The tablet form does not fully protect against flea bites, which leads to a new outbreak of dietary supplements in the animal. The use of Spot-on drops in one of the group of subjects and the collar in the other group increased the effect of protection against flea bites and reduced the risk of developing dietary supplements in dogs. For cats, it is recommended to regularly treat fleas with the Spot-on contact action drug, the effectiveness of which has been proven by a decrease in the number of fleas in animals after the first day of treatment, in contrast to the form of release of the drug in the form of a collar. Droplet formulations in cats have also been shown to reduce itching and scratching.

An inventory of the types of rodent spread in Houses with a study of external parasites of the most dominant species at Esna area, Luxor Governorate, Egypt

An inventory of the types of rodent spread in Houses with a study of external parasites of the most dominant species at Esna area, Luxor Governorate, Egypt

Intensity and clinical morbidities of tungiasis in an impoverished south-west Nigerian community

Sand fleas infestation, Tunga penetrans, remains a neglected tropical disease of public-health concern in many countries. Tungiasis can lead to destruction of the feet causing serious discomfort and deformities. This study aim was to determine the intensity rate and clinical morbidities of tungiasis among the people living in Igbokoda, Ondo State, Nigeria. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among households in three villages in Igbokoda. Hands and feet of selected household members were examined, while fleas on different floor types of houses were sampled by soil collection and extraction by tullgren funnel method. Sand fleas were equally sampled from legs of infested individuals by hand picking. Intensity was determined in terms of number of lesions and fleas in different floor-types. Tungiasis-associated morbidities was assessed using acute and chronic lesions severity scores. The study revealed that moderate infestation was observed in 173 infested individuals and severe infestation in 16 infested individuals. A total of 5293 lesions was observed out of which 3098 were viable. The flea burdens on sampled floors and legs were 127 and 146 fleas respectively occurring mostly in unpaved veranda and rooms (65 and 62 fleas respectively). Tungiasis lesions observed in males were more intense compared to females. Flea lesions and burdens with respect to age stratification and location were significant P < 0.0001. Difficulty in walking, pain upon pressure and deformation of the feet were the most common tungiasis-associated morbidity recorded. Also, tungiasis-associated morbidities, and flea number sampled on legs and on floor of environment were reportedly intense. Therefore, scaling up an appropriate and affordable intervention approach targeted at the fleas would serve as a relief to the scourge of tungiasis in Igbokoda community.

Productivity of oilseed flax depending on the use of pesticides and agrochemicals in the conditions of the Lower Volga region

In the course of the research, the effect of dressing oil flax seeds (varieties VNIIMK 620 and Rucheyok) with an insect-fungicidal tank mixture on the preservation of crops from diseases and a complex of phytophages (in particular, flax flea beetles), and an increase in seed yield was revealed. The presented agrotechnical and protective measures aimed at reducing the degree of infection and spread of fusarium (Fusarium lini Boll and Fusarium spp.) of the number of flax fleas (Aphthona, family Chrysomelidae). The introduction of well-grounded methods of using fertilizers contributes not only to the growth and development of crops, increasing yields and quality of seeds, but also contributes to the preservation of soil fertility. Presowing treatment of flax seeds with an insect-fungicidal tank mixture, followed by the introduction of mineral fertilizers N60P30K30 for cultivation, not only created a better protection of crops from disease and a decrease in the damage to the crop by infection in seeds, but also had a positive effect on seed yield.