Number Of Fleas Research Articles

SEASON OF DELTAMETHRIN APPLICATION AFFECTS FLEA AND PLAGUE CONTROL IN WHITE-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG (CYNOMYS LEUCURUS) COLONIES, COLORADO, USA.

In 2008 and 2009, we evaluated the duration of prophylactic deltamethrin treatments in white-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys leucurus ) colonies and compared effects of autumn or spring dust application in suppressing flea numbers and plague. Plague occurred before and during our experiment. Overall, flea abundance tended to increase from May or June to September, but it was affected by deltamethrin treatment and plague dynamics. Success in trapping prairie dogs (animals caught/trap days) declined between June and September at all study sites. However, by September trap success on dusted sites (19%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 16-22%) was about 15-fold greater than on undusted control sites (1%; CI 0.3-4%; P≤0.0001). Applying deltamethrin dust as early as 12 mo prior seemed to afford some protection to prairie dogs. Our data showed that dusting even a portion of a prairie dog colony can prolong its persistence despite epizootic plague. Autumn dusting may offer advantages over spring in suppressing overwinter or early-spring flea activity, but timing should be adjusted to precede the annual decline in aboveground activity for hibernating prairie dog species. Large colony complexes or collections of occupied but fragmented habitat may benefit from dusting some sites in spring and others in autumn to maximize flea suppression in a portion of the complex or habitat year-round.

Evaluation of the speed of kill, effects on reproduction, and effectiveness in a simulated infested-home environment of sarolaner (Simparica™) against fleas on dogs

Four studies were conducted to evaluate the speed of kill, effect on egg production, and efficacy in a simulated infested-home environment of a novel isoxazoline, sarolaner (Simparica™, Zoetis), against fleas on dogs. Individually identified and housed, purpose-bred Beagles were used in each study and were allocated randomly to groups based on pretreatment parasite counts. In two speed of kill studies, groups of dogs infested with 100 fleas prior to treatment were treated orally with placebo or sarolaner tablets providing the minimum dose of 2mg/kg and then re-infested with fleas weekly for five weeks post-treatment. Comb counts were conducted to determine the numbers of viable fleas at one to three, four, eight and 12h after treatment and each subsequent infestation. In the egg production study, sarolaner- and placebo-treated dogs were similarly challenged with fleas and at 48h after each infestation the dogs were housed for 20h in cages allowing the collection and counting of all flea eggs produced during this period. Collected eggs were incubated to evaluate hatch and development to adults. The last study used dogs housed in a flea-infested simulated-home environment. Dogs were allocated to treatment with either placebo or sarolaner tablets providing a dose of 2mg/kg once a month for three treatments. Flea infestations were assessed by comb counts (fleas were replaced on the dogs) on Days 14, 30, 44, 60, 74 and 90.The speed of kill studies demonstrated that a single 2mg/kg oral dose of sarolaner started killing fleas within three to four hours after treatment or subsequent re-infestations for up to a month, and achieved ≥98% control of fleas by eight hours after treatment or re-infestation for 28 days. In the study to assess effects on flea reproduction, a single oral treatment of sarolaner resulted in the complete cessation of egg-laying for 35 days. This rapid kill of fleas and inhibition of reproduction were confirmed in a simulated-home environment where the existing infestations were reduced by >95% within two weeks of the first treatment and eliminated from the dogs after two monthly doses.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of a novel oral formulation of sarolaner (Simparica™) for the treatment and control of fleas on dogs

The efficacy of a single oral dose of a novel isoxazoline, sarolaner (Simparica™, Zoetis), for the treatment and control of flea infestations on dogs was confirmed in five laboratory studies. The studies were conducted using adult purpose-bred Beagles and/or mixed breed dogs. All animals were individually identified and housed, and were allocated randomly to treatment with either placebo or sarolaner (eight to 10 per group) based on pretreatment parasite counts. Three studies used cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis felis) strains recently isolated from the field from the US, EU, or Australia; in the fourth study a laboratory strain (KS1) with documented tolerance to a number of insecticides such as fipronil, imidacloprid, and permethrin was used. In the fifth study, dogs were infested with dog fleas, Ctenocephalides canis. Dogs were treated orally on Day 0 with a placebo or a sarolaner tablet providing a minimum dose of 2mg/kg. Dogs were infested with approximately 100 unfed, adult fleas prior to treatment and at weekly intervals post-treatment. Comb counts were conducted to determine the numbers of viable fleas at 24h after treatment and after each subsequent infestation. Efficacy against C. felis and C. canis was 99.8–100% from treatment through Day 35. In all five studies, elimination of existing infestations was achieved within 24h after dosing, with only a single live C. felis found on one dog on Day 1. Similarly, control of flea challenges was achieved within 24h after infestation throughout the 35day study periods, with only single live C. felis found on two dogs on Day 28 in one study, and on a single dog on Day 35 in another study. There were no adverse reactions to treatment with sarolaner. These studies confirmed that a single oral dose of sarolaner at 2mg/kg provided highly effective treatment of existing C. felis infestations and persistent control of C. felis on dogs for 35days after treatment. Efficacy equivalent to that seen with C. felis was confirmed against C. canis and a known insecticide-tolerant strain of C. felis.

Tungiasis-associated morbidity in pigs and dogs in endemic villages of Uganda.

BackgroundTunga penetrans (Insecta, Siphonaptera, Tungidae) causes severe morbidity among heavily infected humans and animals in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. The clinical pathology of tungiasis in animals has never been studied systematically.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted between January to March 2015, aimed at describing tungiasis-associated clinical pathology in 121 and 20 T. penetrans-infected pigs and dogs, living in nine and five endemic rural villages respectively located in Bugiri District, Busoga, Uganda.ResultsThe parasite load of infected animals ranged from one to 246 (median 8) and one to eight (median 2) in pigs and dogs, respectively. In pigs 99.3 % and in dogs 100 % of the lesions were located on feet. In pigs, hind legs were significantly more affected than front legs (90.9 % vs. 57.9 %; p = 0.002) and also had more lesions than the front legs (median 5 vs. 1; p = 0.0001). However, in dogs localization of lesions between front and hind legs never differed significantly (front, 50 % vs. hind, 65 %; p = 0.51) and so were the number of lesions (median front = 0.5 vs. median hind = 2; p = 0.7). Acute and chronic clinical pathology coexisted. The most common disease manifestations in pigs were hoof wall erosions (68.6 %), tissue necrosis of hoof wall and skin (66.1), pain at infection sites (47.9 %), hoof deformity (45.5 %), fissures (44.6 %) and edema (44.6 %). In dogs, tungiasis mainly presented with pain at attachment site (80 %), ulcers (55 %), necrosis (30 %) as well as hyperemia and edema (both 15 %). One pig had lost dew claws while two had loose detaching claws. Despite a lower number of sand fleas, a higher proportion of infected dogs (20 %) than pigs (5.8 %) exhibited functional limb use difficulties (p = 0.05).ConclusionsThe pattern of clinical manifestations in pigs and dogs were very similar to those reported from affected humans and rats. The important morbidity associated with animal tungiasis makes the disease a serious veterinary health problem in sub-Saharan Africa warranting treatment and control for optimal animal production.

Characteristics of Entomoparasitic Nematodes of Small Rodent Fleas

Entomoparasitic nematodes are the natural regulators of numbers of fleas – plague vectors in natural plague foci. They have an impact on the intensity of epizootic process, progressing in these foci. Objective of the study is to examine entomoparasitic nematodes from fleas of the souslik and vole, collected in the territory of Povolzhsky Region. Materials and methods. Presented are the results of morphological and genetic analysis of entomoparasitic nematodes, flea parasites – Citellophilus tesquorum, Amphipsylla rossica and Ctenophthalmus secundus, collected from the small ground squirrel Spermophilus pygmaeus and social vole Microtus socialis, respectively. Results and conclusions. Established has been morphological identity of nematode parasitic females isolated from all the three species of fleas, and a high degree of similarity to the previously described Rubzovinema ceratophylla, parasitizing on C. tesquorum fleas. Substantiated has been the belonging of parasitic nematodes isolated from fleas C. tesquorum, А. rossica and C. secundus, to one and the same species, specified as Rubzovinema sp., based on the high percentage of the homology of the nucleotide sequences of rRNA genes (99.3–100 %). This species differs from the previously described monoxenous R. ceratophylla in absence of strict host specificity.

Factors that Predetermined Activation of Plague Epizooties in the Pre-Caspian Sandy Natural Focus in 2014

In 2014, in the central coastal part of the Pre-Caspian sandy natural plague focus, activation of epizootic process in the complex rodent settlements occurred. Objective of the study was to identify the factors that predetermined the development of intensive and extensive plague epizooties. Utilized were operational data from the Astrakhan, Elista, and Dagestan plague control stations, and personal investigation records gathered in the focus. Consequently to the high baseline numbers of rodents and fleas, mild winter weather in 2013-2014 population density of the vectors and carriers of the infection significantly exceeded long-term average annual indexes in the following spring. Total abundance rates reached up to 31.1 specimens per a hectare, being lowered up to 17.8 by the fall. Stock of the main vector of plague, N. laeviceps flea, amounted to 350 and to 120 per a hectare in the spring and autumn, respectively. All in all, in the course of the three rolling seasons isolated were 56 Y. pestis cultures: 17 strains - from the rodents, and 39 - from the fleas. The overall epizootic area totaled to 2300 km 2 . Plague epizooties were registered in the zone of sustained natural focality within the bonds of the Ilmen-Pridelta, Primorsky, and Chernozemelsky landscape-epizootic regions in the administrative territory of the Limansky District in the Astrakhan Region, Lagansky and Chernozemelsky Regions of the Republic of Kalmykia, and Tarumovsky Region of the Republic of Dagestan. Results of monitoring over the epizootic manifestations and plague carrier and vector abundance dynamics provided the basis for scheduling and performance of anti-epidemic activities, as well as for forecasting of the epidemic situation development in the focus.

Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca prefer ectoparasite-free nest sites when old nest material is present

Nest-dwelling ectoparasitic arthropods may have detrimental effects on avian breeding success and fitness. Birds should therefore be selected to avoid nest sites where the risk of being infested by ectoparasites is high. However, studies testing this hypothesis have produced mixed results. We performed an experiment in south Norway to test whether Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca select nest site according to the presence of ectoparasites. We used artificial nest boxes in this experiment which had all been successfully used by conspecifics in the previous breeding season and still contained the old nest material. Five different groups of ectoparasites were recorded in flycatcher nests in the study area, of which the haematophagous hen flea Ceratophyllus gallinae and mites (Dermanyssus sp.) occurred in all examined nests. We offered each flycatcher pair (n = 13) a choice between 1) a box where ectoparasites had been removed by insecticide fumigation and 2) a box in which the old nest had not been fumigated. Flycatchers were highly selective in their choice of nest site, all but one settling in the fumigated, parasite-free nest box. This finding differs from a similar Swedish study (Olsson & Allander 1995) which did not find any evidence that Pied Flycatchers avoided nest boxes with ectoparasites. A likely explanation for this discrepancy is between-population differences in parasite abundance, as the mean number of hen fleas per infested nest was about five times higher in Norway than in Sweden.

Comparison of Two Pour-On Formulations of Ivermectin against Gastrointestinal Worms, Fleas and Lice in Naturally Infected Stray Dogs

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of two commercial pour-on ivermectin formulations against intestinal parasites (IP), fleas and lice in naturally infested stray dogs. Eighteen crossbreed dogs with eggs of IP as well as adult fleas and lice were included in the trial. On day 0, the dogs were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 animals each: a group receiving a single pour-on treatment with 0.5% ivermectin (500 mcg/kg), a group treated similarly with 0.2% iver-mectin (200 mg/kg), and a control group. Fecal and skin analyses were carried out on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 to determine the reduction of eggs and the number of fleas and lice. Weight gain was also measured on day 28. On day 30, the dogs were humanely sacrificed in order to count adult IP. Efficacy was measured as the percentage of the reduction of eggs per gram fecal mass (EPGF), of adult IP, fleas and lice relative to the control group. For the eggs of IP, ivermectin at 0.5% showed an efficacy of 100% against ascarids and 79% against Ancylostoma caninum. ivermectin at 0.2% removed 90.2% of the ascarids and 50.4% of A. caninum. For adult IP, the efficacy of 0.5% iver-mectin against Toxocara canis and A. caninum was 100%, and for 0.2% ivermectin it was 62.4% and 76.4% for T. canis and A. caninum, respectively. Both compounds were 100% effective against lice and 96% and 71.1% efficacious against fleas, respectively. However, neither treatment was effective against Dypilidium caninum. Weight gain in treated dogs was statistically different from that of the controls (p < 0.05). We concluded that 0.5% pour-on ivermectin showed better efficacy than 0.2% pour-on ivermectin in the reduction of eggs and adult intestinal parasites and fleas; it was similarly efficacious against lice.

Occurrence of Dipylidium caninum in fleas from client-owned cats and dogs in Europe using a new PCR detection assay

Ctenocephalides fleas are not only the most prevalent ectoparasites of dogs and cats but also the intermediate host of the cestode Dipylidium caninum. Due to the poor sensitivity of coproscopy to diagnose cat and dog infestation by Dipylidium, few epidemiological data are available on its prevalence among pet populations. A new PCR method was developed to specifically identify D. caninum rDNA inside single fleas. The PCR test was then applied to 5529 fleas of Ctenocephalides genus, 2701 Ctenocephalides felis fleas (1969 collected on 435 cats and 732 on 178 dogs) and 2828 Ctenocephalides canis fleas collected from 396 dogs. Precisely, 4.37% of cats were infested by a flea population infected with D. caninum. Out of the 1969 C. felis from cats, 2.23% were found to be infected with Dipylidium. From the 396 dogs infested with C. canis, 9.1%% were infested with the Dipylidium infected fleas, which is significantly higher than the observation made in cats (p=0.03). Moreover, 3.1% of the C. canis fleas were found to be infected with Dipylidium, which is not significantly different than in C. felis. Looking at the number of infected fleas in the positive samples (at least one PCR positive flea in a sample), the infestation rate in samples was varied from 3 to 100% with an average of 19.7% which is in favour of easy and regular Dipylidium reinfestations of both cats and dogs in households. For the first time, the spread of D. caninum between fleas and dogs and cats is confirmed throughout Europe.

Evaluation of indoxacarb and fipronil (s)-methoprene topical spot-on formulations to control flea populations in naturally infested dogs and cats in private residences in Tampa FL. USA

BackgroundA study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two different spot-on topical flea products to control flea infestations on naturally infested dogs and cats in Tampa, FL USA.MethodsThirty-two dogs and 3 cats with natural flea infestations living in 18 homes were treated topically with a 19.53% w/w spot-on formulation of indoxacarb. Another thirty dogs and 2 cats living in 19 different homes were treated topically with either fipronil (9.8% w/w)/(s)-methoprene (8.89% w/w) or fipronil (9.8% w/w)/(s)-methoprene (11.8% w/w), respectively. All products were applied according to label directions by study investigators on day 0 and again between days 28 and 30. Flea populations on pets were assessed using visual area counts and premise flea infestations were assessed using intermittent-light flea traps on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28–30, 40–45, and 54–60.ResultsA single application of the indoxacarb or fipronil (s)-methoprene formulations reduced flea populations on pets by 97.8% and 85.5%, respectively within 7 days. One month (28–30 days) after treatment the indoxacarb and fipronil (s)-methoprene formulations reduced on-animal flea burdens by 95.0% and 49.5%, respectively. Following two monthly applications of either the indoxacarb or fipronil (s)-methoprene formulations, pet flea burdens were reduced by 99.1% and 54.8%, respectively, by days 54 – 60. At the end of the two month study, 77.1% and 15.6% of the dogs and cats in the indoxacarb and fipronil (s)-methoprene treatment groups, respectively were flea free. Flea numbers in the indoor-premises were markedly reduced in both treatment groups by days 54–60, with 97.7% and 84.6% reductions in intermittent-light flea trap counts in the indoxacarb and fipronil (s)-methoprene treatment groups, respectively.ConclusionsThis in-home investigation conducted during the summer of 2013 in subtropical Tampa, FL, is the first published U.S field investigation of the indoxacarb topical formulation. The indoxacarb formulation was able to effectively control flea populations in heavily flea infested pets and homes. The efficacy achieved by the fipronil (s)-methoprene formulation against flea infestations on these pets was lower than in previous investigations using the same study design.

Ectoparasites in urban stray cats in Jerusalem, Israel: differences in infestation patterns of fleas, ticks and permanent ectoparasites

In a period cross-sectional study performed to examine ectoparasites on 340 stray cats in Jerusalem, Israel, 186 (54.7%) were infested with the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), 49 (14.4%) with the cat louse, Felicola subrostratus (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae), 41 (12.0%) with the ear mite, Otodectes cynotis (Astigmata: Psoroptidae), three (0.9%) with the fur mite, Cheyletiella blakei (Trobidiformes: Cheyletidae), two (0.6%) with the itch mite Notoedres cati (Astigmata: Sarcoptidae), and 25 (7.3%) with ticks of the species Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Ixodida: Ixodidae), Rhipicephalus turanicus or Haemaphysalis adleri (Ixodida: Ixodidae). A higher number of flea infestations was observed in apparently sick cats (P < 0.05) and in cats aged < 6 months (P < 0.05). The proportion of flea-infested cats (P < 0.01), as well as the number of fleas per infested cat (P < 0.01), was higher in autumn than in other seasons. By contrast with findings in cats with flea infestations, rates of infestation with ticks were higher amongst cats with clinical signs (P < 0.01) and cats aged ≥ 6 months (P < 0.05). The high rates of ectoparasite infestation in the cats studied constitute a risk for the spread of vector-borne infections of zoonotic and veterinary importance.

Sex-biased parasitism is not universal: evidence from rodent–flea associations from three biomes

The distribution of parasites among individual hosts is characterised by high variability that is believed to be a result of variations in host traits. To find general patterns of host traits affecting parasite abundance, we studied flea infestation of nine rodent species from three different biomes (temperate zone of central Europe, desert of Middle East and tropics of East Africa). We tested for independent and interactive effects of host sex and body mass on the number of fleas harboured by an individual host while accounting for spatial clustering of host and parasite sampling and temporal variation. We found no consistent patterns of the effect of host sex and body mass on flea abundance either among species within a biome or among biomes. We found evidence for sex-biased flea infestation in just five host species (Apodemus agrarius, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, Gerbillus andersoni, Mastomys natalensis). In six rodent species, we found an effect of body mass on flea abundance (all species mentioned above and Meriones crassus). This effect was positive in five species and negative in one species (Microtus arvalis). In M. glareolus, G. andersoni, M. natalensis, and M. arvalis, the relationship between body mass and flea abundance was mediated by host sex. This was manifested in steeper change in flea abundance with increasing body mass in male than female individuals (M. glareolus, G. andersoni, M. natalensis), whereas the opposite pattern was found in M. arvalis. Our findings suggest that sex and body mass are common determinants of parasite infestation in mammalian hosts, but neither of them follows universal rules. This implies that the effect of host individual characteristics on mechanisms responsible for flea acquisition may be manifested differently in different host species.

Direct transmission of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) between cats exhibiting social behaviour

A study design was created to assess the potential for fleas to infest cats directly from other cats. In the first experiment, six cats were infested with 100 fleas each and then immediately put in contact with six flea-free cats for 24 h. After removal of all fleas the study was repeated and the contact between cats lasted 48 h. The total numbers of fleas recovered out of the 600 fleas deposited on the 6 donor cats after each infestation were 499 and 486 at 24 h and 48 h respectively. At 1 h post-contact, five fleas were found on the receiver cats, with three cats having one flea and one cat, two fleas. The number of fleas recovered on receiver cats increased towards the end of the study. At 24 h, 20% of the fleas were found on the receiver cats, and at 48 h, 23%. In a second experiment, the six flea-free cats were put in contact with the six donor cats which were each infested by 100 fleas 48 h before. Fewer fleas were found on the receiver cats (n = 15), representing 3.8% of all fleas recovered (n = 403). All the observed fleas had fed. The fleas collected on receiving cats comprised 10 males and 5 females, and 4 of the 5 females were engorged and contained eggs. The fleas collected on donor cats comprised 153 males and 235 females, they were all fed and all females contained eggs. This experiment demonstrated that gravid female fleas have a tendency to become permanently but not exclusively parasitic. Nevertheless, a few can change their cat host in as little as 1 h, which may play a role in the rapid introduction of a new flea population into a cat environment.

Seasonal Abundance and Epidemiological Indices of Potential Plague Vectors &lt;I&gt;Dinopsyllus lypusus&lt;/I&gt; (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae) and &lt;I&gt;Ctenophthalmus calceatus&lt;/I&gt; (Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae) on Rodents Captured From Three Habitat Types of Hatcliffe and Dzivarasekwa Suburbs of Harare, Zimbabwe

The seasonal abundance of Dinopsyllus lypusus Jordan and Rothschild and Ctenophthalmus calceatus Waterson (potential vectors of plague in southern Africa) were studied on rodent hosts captured in selected habitat types of two periurban suburbs of Harare, Zimbabwe. Removal trapping was used to capture the rodents, from which fleas were collected and identified. Prevalence (proportion of animals infested) and specific flea index (SFI = number of fleas per animal) were calculated for each species of rodent host. Cohabitation of the two flea species on the host and its implications were also assessed. In total, 1,083 rodents belonging to nine species were trapped and over 97% of the total captures comprised of four species; Mastomys natalensis Smith, Rattus rattus L., Tatera leucogaster Peters, and Rhabdomys pumilio Sparrman. In total, 735 D. lypusus and 335 C. calceatus were recorded on these four common rodent species. Population density of D. lypusus as measured by prevalence and SFI varied from 13.4 to 53.3% and 0.2-1.5, respectively, while that of C. calceatus varied from 8.2 to 26.7% and 0.2-0.6, respectively. For all rodent species captured, both prevalence and SFI of D. lypusus and C. calceatus were highest during the cold-dry season, followed by the hot dry season, with the hot-wet season recording the lowest indices. Overall cohabitation was highest during the cold-dry season and nonexistent during the hot-wet season. Our findings on the abundance and ecology of D. lypusus and C. calceatus suggest that their roles in the transmission of plague in Zimbabwe need further investigation.

Comparative efficacy on dogs of a single topical treatment with fipronil/(S)-methoprene or weekly physiological hygiene shampoos againstCtenocephalides felisin a simulated flea-infested environment

Flea infestations of pets continue to persist due to the lack of knowledge of flea biology and ecology. It is not unusual that pet owners believe regular hygiene, such as shampooing their dogs can replace regular insecticidal treatment. The objective of this study was to compare in a flea simulated environment, modelling exposure similar to that found in a home, that the use of regular physiological shampoo does not control fleas adequately when compared to a long acting topical formulation. Three groups of six dogs were formed: one untreated control group, one group treated monthly with the topical formulation of fipronil/(S)-methoprene, and a third group treated weekly with a hygiene shampoo. All dogs were infested with adult unfed Ctenocephalides felis fleas (200 ± 5) on Days -28 and -21. Each animal’s sleeping box was fitted with a plastic cup mounted to the inside roof of the box. The sleeping bench of each animal was covered with a carpet to accommodate flea development. The dogs were maintained in their kennels throughout the study. In order to maintain the environmental flea challenge, C. felis pupae (100 ± 5) were placed in the plastic cup in each animal’s sleeping box on Days -14, -7, 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. The dogs were combed and fleas counted weekly on Days -1, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 38, 45, and 51. The fleas were placed immediately back on the dogs. On Day 60, fleas were counted and removed. Flea infestations in the untreated control group at each count averaged between 46.2 and 74.2 fleas throughout the study. The average number of fleas infesting dogs was significantly different (p < 0.05) between the untreated and the two treatment groups and between the two treatment groups at all counts throughout the two months study (Days 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 38, 45, 51 and 60). The efficacy was never below 99.1% in the fipronil/(S)-methoprene group, and efficacy in the shampoo group was never above 79.2%. Weekly shampooing in treatment group 3 was intentionally delayed after Day 42, to evaluate wether missing a weekly bath would affect the flea population. The Day 48 data indicate that forgetting or delaying a single weekly shampooing resulted in a clear increase in flea numbers and a significant decrease in efficacy from 68.2% to 34.8%. The fipronil(S)/methoprene treatment allowed a continuous control as demonstrated by the high efficacy against fleas, and also the number of flea-free dogs on seven of the nine weekly assessments, in spite of what was essentially a continuous flea challenge model.

Evaluation and Modification of Off-Host Flea Collection Techniques Used in Northwest Uganda: Laboratory and Field Studies

Quantifying the abundance of host-seeking fleas is critical for assessing risk of human exposure to flea-borne disease agents, including Yersinia pestis, the etiological agent of plague. Yet, reliable measures of the efficacy of existing host-seeking flea collection methods are lacking. In this study, we compare the efficacy of passive and active methods for the collection of host-seeking fleas in both the laboratory and human habitations in a plague-endemic region of northwest Uganda. In the laboratory, lighted "Kilonzo" flea traps modified with either blinking lights, the creation of shadows or the generation of carbon dioxide were less efficient at collecting Xenopsylla cheopis Rothchild and Ctenocephalides felis Bouché fleas than an active collection method using white cotton socks or cotton flannel. Passive collection using Kilonzo light traps in the laboratory collected significantly more X. cheopis than C. felis and active collection, using white socks and flannel, collected significantly more C. felis than X. cheopis. In field studies conducted in Uganda, Kilonzo traps using a flashlight were similar in their collection efficacy to Kilonzo traps using kerosene lamps. However, in contrast to laboratory studies, Kilonzo flea traps using flashlights collected a greater number of fleas than swabbing. Within human habitations in Uganda, Kilonzo traps were especially useful for collecting C. felis, the dominant species found in human habitations in this area.

Understanding attraction stimuli of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, in non-chemical control methods

Comparisons were conducted of flea catches of four commercially available flea traps in the laboratory and under field conditions, in both rural and urban locations. The results clearly showed the My Flea Trap™, which utilizes an intermittent light to attract fleas, to be far superior in trapping ability to the three continuous light traps; it caught up to 23 times as many fleas as the other traps. Altering the lighting mechanism to provide continuous rather than intermittent light significantly decreased the number of fleas captured. In addition, the use of a green filter significantly increased trapping efficiency, whereas the addition of a heat source had no apparent effect.

Efficacy of dinotefuran–pyriproxyfen, dinotefuran–pyriproxyfen–permethrin and fipronil–(S)-methoprene topical spot-on formulations to control flea populations in naturally infested pets and private residences in Tampa, FL

Thirteen cats and 7 dogs living in 14 homes were treated topically with either a dinotefuran (22%, w/w)/pyriproxyfen (3.00%, w/w) (DP) or dinotefuran (4.95%, w/w)/pyriproxyfen (0.44%, w/w)/permethrin (36.08%, w/w) (DPP) topical spot-on, respectively. Twenty cats and 7 dogs living in 16 homes were treated topically with either a fipronil (9.8%, w/w)/(S)-methoprene (11.8%, w/w) or fipronil (9.8%, w/w)/(S)-methoprene (8.8%, w/w) topical spot-on (FM), respectively. All products were applied according to label directions by study investigators on day 0 and again between days 28 and 30. Flea populations on pets were assessed using visual area counts and premise flea infestations were assessed using intermittent-light flea traps on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28–30, 40–45, and 54–60. A single application of the DP–DPP and FM formations reduced flea populations by 87.35% and 88.44%, respectively within 7 days. Following two monthly applications of either the DP–DPP or FM formulations, pet flea burdens were reduced by 95.24% and 95.47%, respectively. Flea numbers in the indoor-premises were also markedly reduced by days 54–60, with 98.05% and 96.15% reductions in intermittent-light flea trap counts in the DP–DPP or FM treatment groups, respectively.

Detection ofRickettsia felisandRickettsia typhiand Seasonal Prevalence of Fleas Collected from Small Mammals at Gyeonggi Province in the Republic of Korea

Fleas were collected from live-captured small mammals to identify flea-borne pathogens, host associations, and seasonal prevalence of flea species, as part of the 65th Medical Brigade rodent-borne disease surveillance program at 20 military installations and training sites, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea, 2005-2007. A total of 1251 fleas were recovered from 2833 small mammals. Apodemus agrarius, the striped field mouse, accounted for 93.1% (2,637/2,833) of all small mammals captured, followed by Crocidura lasiura (3.1%), Mus musculus (1.3%), Microtus fortis (0.7%), Myodes regulus (0.7%), Micromys minutus (0.5%), Rattus norvegicus (0.4%), Tscherskia triton (0.1%), Apodemus peninsulae (< 0.1%), Rattus rattus (< 0.1%), and Mogera robusta (< 0.1%). A total of 6/11 species of mammals captured were infested with fleas with infestation rates ranging from a high of 26.3% (A. agrarius and M. regulus) to a low of 5.3% (M. fortis). Flea indices among infested mammals were highest for R. norvegicus (2.50), followed by C. lasiura (2.20), A. agrarius (1.71), M. regulus (1.20), M. musculus (1.0), and M. fortis (1.0). The predominant flea species collected were Stenoponia sidimi (56.5%), followed by Ctenophthalmus congeneroides (38.3%) and Rhadinopsylla insolita (3.9%). The minimum field infection rates [number of positive pools/total number of fleas (600)] for Rickettsia typhi and for Rickettsia felis were 1.7% and 1.0%, respectively.

Could parasite control kill the cat instead of it's fleas?

Perhaps no area of veterinary medicine has grown as rapidly as the field of flea and tick control. Fleas have become resistant to many products and with the explosion in flea numbers, there are huge efforts aimed at controlling them. Ticks can also transmit a number of diseases, so tick control is also receiving more attention