Species Composition Of Fleas Research Articles

Ecological and faunistic features of fleas in the Transcaucasian mounthill natural plague foci in Azerbaijan

Among all vectors of natural focal infections, fleas are the most active. In this respect, entomological and epizootological monitoring has always been of great importance. This article, based on the material collected from the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus, presents the results of a study of flea species diversity, the landscape and geographical area of their distribution. The goal of this work was to determine the diversity of flea species, their distribution and abundance based on the results of epizootological studies conducted in areas with different landscapes in the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus of Azerbaijan. The material for the study was obtained during epizootological studies and observations conducted in the spring and autumn seasons of 2020–2023. in the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus of Azerbaijan (Bozchol, Mil-Mugan, Eastern and Western Jeyranchel, Gobustan, Absheron, semi-deserts of Kilazi, Sitalchay). Collection, packaging, transportation, and marketing of the material were carried out on the basis of relevant biosafety rules and delivered for further study to the Special Dangerous İnfections Control Center. In total, 61,087 nest tracks were examined, and 7,939 fleas were collected and delivered. The material was processed and identified in the laboratory in accordance with the current regulatory and methodological document on the safety of working with pathogenic biological agents (PBA) of pathogenicity groups I–IV. As a result of sample identification, the species composition of fleas was determined and grouped by geographical areas and landscapes. Research was also carried out (using the PCR method) for the presence of the plague causative agent - Yersinia pestis. According to the results of the study, it was found that, regardless of the biocenotic and climatic characteristics of individual sectors of the Transcaucasian foothill natural plague focus of Azerbaijan, there may be enough carriers of infectious diseases and their growth increases over the years. The frequency of occurrence of the prevailing genera of fleas - Xenopsylla and Nosopsyllus- depends on the natural and climatic conditions of the focus being studied. The analysis for the presence of the plague causative agent among all fleas caught and studied did not give positive results. For the timely detection of epizootics among wild rodents and bloodsuckers, it is important to conduct regular epizootic surveys in enzootic areas for plague.

To the fauna of fleas (Insecta, Siphonaptera) of the reserve “Baikalo-Lensky”

The fauna of fleas of the Baikalo-Lensky State Nature Reserve (Siberian Federal District, Irkutsk Region) has been poorly studied. One of the authors previously published information about 7 species collected in the reserve, based on the materials of two field seasons in 1997 and 1998. As part of the inventory of the fauna of ectoparasites of the reserve, during seven field seasons, in 2016-2022, new material was collected. The purpose of the research is to make an inventory of the species composition of fleas that parasitize small mammals. As a result of the work, 384 fleas were caught. The collected fleas belong to 16 species from three families. The most interesting find is the flea Catallagia striata Scalon, 1950, which was first encountered in Irkutsk region.

Dispersal-based versus niche-based processes as drivers of flea species composition on small mammalian hosts: inferences from species occurrences at large and small scales.

Biological communities may be assembled by both niche-based and dispersal-based (= historic) processes with the relative importance of these processes in community assembly being scale- and context-dependent. To infer whether (a) niche-based or dispersal-based processes play the main role in the assembly of flea communities parasitic on small mammals and whether (b) the main processes of flea community assembly are scale-dependent, we applied a novel permutation-based algorithm (PER-SIMPER) and the dispersal-niche continuum index (DNCI), to data on the species incidence of fleas and their hosts at two spatial scales. At the larger (continental) scale, we analysed flea communities in four biogeographic realms across adjacent continental sections. At the smaller (local) scale, we considered flea communities across two main regions (lowlands and mountains) and seven habitat types within Slovakia. Our analyses demonstrated that species composition of fleas and their small mammalian hosts depended predominantly on historical processes (dispersal) at both scale. This was true for the majority of biogeographic realms at continental scale (except the Nearctic) and both regions at local scale. Nevertheless, strong niche-based assembly mechanism was found in the Nearctic assemblages. At local scale, the intensity of dispersal processes was weaker and niche-driven processes were stronger between habitats within a region than between mountain and lowland regions. We provide historical and ecological explanations for these patterns. We conclude that the assembly of compound flea communities is governed, to a great extent, by the dispersal processes acting on their hosts and, to a lesser extent, by the niche-based processes.

Comparison of Flea Sampling Methods and Yersinia pestis Detection on Prairie Dog Colonies.

Scientists collect fleas (Siphonaptera) to survey for Yersinia pestis, the bacterial agent of plague. When studying fleas parasitizing prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), two primary methods are used: (1) combing fleas from live-trapped prairie dogs and (2) swabbing fleas from burrows with cloth swabs attached to metal cables. Ideally, burrow swabbing, the cheaper and easier method, would explain flea burdens on prairie dogs and provide reliable information on plague prevalence. In a linear regression analysis of data from 1-month intervals (June-August 2010-2011) on 13 colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus, BTPDs) in New Mexico, flea abundance on swabs explained 0-26% of variation in BTPD flea burdens. In an analysis of data (May-August 2016) from six colonies of BTPDs in Montana, flea abundance on swabs explained 2% of variation in BTPD flea burdens. In an analysis of data from a short-term interval (July 23-27, 2019) on four colonies of BTPDs in Montana, flea abundance on swabs explained 0.1% of variation in BTPD flea burdens. In an analysis of data from 1-week intervals (August-October 2000) on four colonies of white-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus, WTPD) in Utah, swabbing data explained 0.1% of variation in WTPD flea burdens. Pools of fleas from two WTPD colonies were tested for Y. pestis by mouse inoculation and isolation; 65% from WTPDs tested positive, whereas 4% from burrows tested positive. Data herein also show that results from burrow swabbing can misrepresent flea species composition and phenology on prairie dogs. Burrow swabbing is useful for some purposes, but limitations should be acknowledged, and accumulated data should be interpreted with caution.

Flea Communities on Small Rodents in Eastern Poland.

Simple SummaryFleas are obligatory, secondarily wingless, hematophagous insects living all over the world. They colonize a variety of habitats from wet tropical forests to semi-arid and desert areas. Adult individuals feed mainly on small mammals, and less often on birds. The aim of the present study was to explore the fauna of fleas and their broad-sense behavior in eastern Poland. Rodents, which are widely recognized as one of the preferred hosts of these insects, were caught to carry out the study. The results show that, regardless of the ecological habitat type, the striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius was the most frequently captured rodent species, and the Ctenophthalmus agyrtes flea species was collected most frequently. Moreover, rhythms in the seasonal activity of fleas, with a peak in summer months, were noted.Fleas are hematophagous insects infesting mainly small mammals and, less frequently, birds. With their wide range of potential hosts, fleas play a significant role in the circulation of pathogens in nature. Depending on the species, they can be vectors for viruses, bacteria, rickettsiae, and protozoa and a host for some larval forms of tapeworm species. The aim of this study was to determine the species composition of fleas and their small rodent host preferences in eastern Poland. Animals were captured in traps in various types of ecological habitats (a site covered by grassland vegetation within city limits, an unused agricultural meadow, and a fallow land near a mixed forest). The following rodent species were caught: Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis, Microtus arvalis, and Myodes glareolus. Additionally, Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Ctenophthalmus assimilis, Hystrichopsylla talpae, and Nosopsyllus fasciatus flea species were identified. The peak of the flea activity was noted in summer months. C. agyrtes was found to be the most abundant flea species in eastern Poland, while the greatest numbers of fleas were collected from the rodent species A. agrarius.

Detection of Rickettsia spp. in Fleas Collected from Small Mammals in Slovakia, Central Europe

This survey is aimed at investigation of species composition of fleas removed from small terrestrial mammals captured in rural, suburban, and urban types of habitat and molecular screening of the presence and diversity of Rickettsia species in collected ectoparasites. In total, 279 fleas (Siphonaptera) belonging to 9 species of 2 families, Ceratophyllidae and Hystrichopsyllidae, were collected from 115 (46%) out of 250 trapped small mammals of eight species (Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus uralensis, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, Microtus subterraneus, Crocidura leucodon, and Sorex minutus). Rickettsia spp. were found in 2.5% (7/279) of tested fleas, namely in Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Ctenophthalmus solutus, Ctenophthalmus uncinatus, Megabothris turbidus, and Amalareus penicilliger. Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia helvetica, and unidentified Rickettsia species were detected in fleas infesting small mammals in Eastern Slovakia. The results of the study suggest that some species of rickettsiae have a different range of arthropod vectors.

A Research about Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Infestation on Domestic Cats and Dogs in Winter Months, from Antalya, Turkey

Many pet owners are taking precautions to protect their cats and dogs from ectoparasites only during the spring and summer months. However, some studies have shown that fleas can also be found as parasites on pets during winter. In this research, we investigated the species composition of fleas infesting cats and dogs that were brought to a veterinary clinic in Muratpasa, Antalya during the 3-months survey period. In total, 50 domestic animals were examined between December 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018. Species of fleas were identified after being collected from pets. Total 152 fleas, belonging to 2 different species, were recovered from pets. Of the domestic animals, 46% were cats (23) and 54% were dogs (27). Twenty two cats were infested with only Ctenocephalides felis. Nineteen dogs were infested with only Ct. felis, 5 dogs infested with only Ct. canis, and 3 dogs infested with both Ct. felis and Ct. canis. This research showed that infestation with fleas should be monitored and controlled in both cats and dogs during winter months as well.

Differentiation of flea communities infesting small mammals across selected habitats of the Baltic coast, central lowlands, and southern mountains of Poland

Only a few studies comparing flea composition on the coast and in the mountains have been conducted. We investigated differences in flea communities infesting small mammals in selected habitats in northern, central, and southern Poland. We predicted (1) a greater number of flea species in the southeastern Poland and a lower number in the north, (2) a greater number of flea species in fertile and wet habitats than in poor and arid habitats, and (3) a low similarity of flea species between flea communities in western and eastern Poland. We found a negative effect of increasing latitude on flea species richness. We suppose that the mountains providing a variety of environments and the limits of the geographic ranges of several flea subspecies in southeastern Poland result in a higher number of flea species. There was a positive effect of increasing wetness of habitat on flea species richness. We found a high diversity in flea species composition between western and eastern Poland (beta diversity = 11) and between central and eastern Poland (beta diversity = 12). Re-colonization of Poland by small mammals and their ectoparasites from different (western and eastern) refugees can affect on this high diversity of flea species.

An attempt to use ectoparasites as tags for habitat occupancy by small mammalian hosts in central Europe: effects of host gender, parasite taxon and season

We used data on fleas and gamasid mites parasitic on 8 species of small mammals to test whether (a) species composition of ectoparasite infracommunities may be used to predict host habitat occupancy and (b) the accuracy of this prediction differs between ectoparasite taxa, host genders and seasons. We used a Random Forests algorithm that is based on the methodology of classification trees. The accuracy of prediction of habitat occupancy was relatively low and varied substantially among host species. The combined rate of the correct prediction of host habitat occupancy from data on ectoparasites was significantly higher than 50%, albeit being relatively low. The accuracy of prediction (a) did not differ between male and female hosts when it was based on species composition of fleas in summer or of mites in summer and winter, (b) was significantly higher in male hosts than in female hosts when the winter data on fleas were used and (c) was significantly higher for flea than mite assemblages. The effect of season was found in mites but not in fleas with the accuracy of prediction being significantly higher in summer than in winter assemblages. Ectoparasites appeared to be not especially useful as biological markers for distinguishing host populations in different habitats in temperate zones.

Deconstructing spatial patterns in species composition of ectoparasite communities: the relative contribution of host composition, environmental variables and geography

ABSTRACTAim We determined whether dissimilarity in species composition between parasite communities depends on geographic distance, environmental dissimilarity or host faunal dissimilarity, for different subsets of parasite species with different levels of host specificity.Location Communities of fleas parasitic on small mammals from 28 different regions of the Palaearctic.Method Dissimilarities in both parasite and host species composition were computed between each pair of regions using the Bray–Curtis index. Geographic distances between regions were also calculated, as were measures of environmental dissimilarity consisting of the pairwise Euclidean distances between regions derived from elevation, vegetation and climatic variables. The 136 flea species included in the dataset were divided into highly host‐specific species (using 1–2 host species per region, on average), moderately host‐specific species (2.2–4 hosts per region) and generalist species (>4 hosts per region). The relative influence of geographic distance, host faunal dissimilarity and environmental dissimilarity on dissimilarity of flea species composition among all regions was analysed for the entire set of flea species as well as for the three above subsets using multiple regressions on distance matrices.Results When including all flea species, dissimilarity in flea species composition was affected by all three independent variables, although the pure effect of dissimilarity in host species composition was the strongest. Results were different when the subsets of fleas differing in host specificity were treated separately. In particular, dissimilarity in species composition of highly host‐specific fleas increased solely with environmental dissimilarity, whereas dissimilarity for both moderately specific and non‐specific fleas increased with both geographic distance and dissimilarity in host species composition.Main conclusions Host specificity seems to dictate which of the three factors considered is most likely to affect the dissimilarity between flea communities. Counter‐intuitively, environmental dissimilarity played a key role in determining dissimilarity in species composition of highly host‐specific fleas, possibly because, although their presence in a region relies on the occurrence of particular host species, their abundance is itself mostly determined by climatic conditions. Our results show that deconstructing communities into subsets of species with different traits can make it easier to uncover the mechanisms shaping geographic patterns of diversity.

Are local plague endemicity and ecological characteristics of vectors and reservoirs related? A case study in north-east Tanzania

Abstract The pattern of plague endemicity in Tanzania is characterized by continuous re-appearance of the disease in some locations, while in other neighbouring villages the disease has never or seldom been observed. To understand the reasons for this pattern, we studied small mammal and flea species composition, diversity and relative abundances in two plague-endemic and two plague-free locations. We asked (a) whether fleas more abundant in plague-endemic locations differ in their characteristic abundance and the degree of their host specificity from fleas more abundant in plague-free locations and (b) whether hosts most abundant in plague- endemic locations differ in the diversity of their flea assemblages from hosts most abundant in plague-free locations. We characterized (a) each host species by species richness and degree of taxonomic relatedness of its flea assemblages and (b) each flea species by its mean abundance and size, and degree of taxonomic relatedness of its host spectrum and compared their relative abundances between locations. No significant difference between plague- endemic and plague-free locations in either host density or any variable related to flea abundance or diversity was found. However, there was marginally significant effect of taxonomic distinctness of a flea assemblage harboured by a host on its probability to be more abundant in either plague-endemic or plague-free locations. Furthermore, hosts more abundant in plague-endemic locations tended to harbour closely-related fleas. Finally. while opportunistic and specialist fleas were equally distributed in both sets of locations, fleas exploiting distantly-related hosts were found mainly in plague-free locations during the rainy season. We suggest that the observed patterns might arise due to seasonal and spatial differences in local microclimatic conditions and landscape connectivity.

Seasonal and habitat dependence of fleas parasitic on small mammals in Tanzania

We investigated host and flea species composition across different habitats during dry and rainy seasons in the Western Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. During both seasons, similarity in flea species composition increased with an increase in the similarity in host species composition. Nevertheless, between-season within-habitat as well as within-season between-habitat similarity in host species composition was higher than similarity in flea species composition. Ordination of habitats according to their host and flea species composition demonstrated that the pattern of between-habitat similarity in both host and flea species composition varied seasonally. Despite the relatively rich mammal and flea fauna of the study region, the major contribution to variation in species composition between seasons and among habitats was due to a few species only. Flea assemblages on Lophuromys kilonzoi Verheyen et al., 2007 and Praomys delectorum Thomas, 1910 in different habitats were equally similar in either season. In contrast, flea assemblages on Mastomys natalensis (Smith, 1834) occurring in different habitats were more similar in the dry than in the rainy season, whereas the opposite was the case for fleas on Grammomys sp. In different hosts, the main differences in species composition of flea assemblages between seasons as well as among habitats were due to different flea species. Although our results support the earlier idea that parasite species composition is determined by both host species composition and habitat properties, the former appears to explain variance in flea species composition between localities in the tropics better than between localities in temperate and arid zones.

Fleas of the Moiynkum Desert and their epizootic significance

The species composition of fleas in the Moiynkum Desert (Chu-Talas interfluve) and indices of their domination on different hosts was established on the basis of long-term observations (1973–2000). The most significant and prolonged changes in the population density of mass flea species (Xenopsylla gerbilli minax and Coptopsylla lamellifer, parasites of the great gerbil) occur in association with changes of the population density of rodents. Changes in the population density of rodents are usually observed year after similar changes in the population density of hosts. The leading role in the transmission of the plague vector belongs to the flea X. gerbilli minax.

Habitat variation in species composition of flea assemblages on small mammals in central Europe

AbstractWe studied patterns of variation in species composition of flea assemblages on small mammals across different habitats of Slovakia and compared flea species composition within and across host species among habitats. We asked (1) how variable the composition of flea assemblages is among different populations of the same host occurring in different habitats and (2) whether the composition of flea assemblages in a habitat is affected either by species composition of hosts or by environmental affinities of this habitat. Between‐habitat similarity in flea species composition increased with an increase in the similarity in host species composition. Species richness of flea assemblages of a host species correlated positively with mean number of cohabitating host species but not with the number of habitats occupied by a host species. Results of the ordination of flea collections from each individual host demonstrated that the first five principal components explained most of the variance in species composition of flea assemblages. The segregation between rodent and insectivore flea assemblages was easily discerned from the ordination diagram when flea assemblages were plotted according to their hosts. When flea assemblages were plotted according to their habitat affinities, the distinction of habitats based on variation in flea composition was not as clear. The results of ANOVA of each principal component showed the significant effect of both host species and habitat type. The variation in each principal component was explained better by the factor of host species compared with the factor of habitat type. Multidimensional scaling of flea assemblages within host species across habitats demonstrated that among‐habitat variation in flea composition was manifested differently in different hosts.

Nested pattern in flea assemblages across the host's geographic range

Understanding non‐random patterns in the taxonomic composition of communities occurring in insular or fragmented habitats remains a major goal of ecology. Nested subset patterns are one possible departure from random community assembly that has been reported for communities of both free‐living and parasitic animals. Here, we investigate the effects of extrinsic factors on the occurrence of nestedness among the assemblages of fleas found in different populations of the same host species, using data on 25 mammalian host species. The patterns of flea species composition among host populations spanned the entire spectrum from significantly nested to significantly anti‐nested. After controlling for host phylogeny, we found that across host species, the tendency for flea assemblages to approach nestedness increased with increasing host geographic range size and with decreasing latitude of the host's geographic range. This tendency also decreased with an increase in a composite variable combining data on mean January and July temperature. The number of closely‐related mammalian species living in sympatry with a given host species had no influence on whether or not the structure of flea assemblages among its populations departed from randomness. We propose explanations for these results that include: the possible gradual loss of flea species as a host expands its range from its initial area of origin, the lack of specific flea faunas in narrowly‐distributed host species, interspecific differences in the dispersal abilities of flea species becoming amplified in hosts with broad geographical ranges, and the effect of latitude, climate and environment on the probabilities of host‐switching and extinction in fleas. Overall, our results suggest that the structure of flea assemblages in mammalian hosts may be driven by features of host biology.

Water balance in two species of desert fleas, Xenopsylla ramesis and X. conformis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae).

The role of water balance capabilities of fleas was examined in desert habitats. The fleas studied were Xenopsylla ramesis Rothschild and Xenopsylla conformis Wagner. Both fleas occur on Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus, in the Negev Highlands of Israel but in different macro- and microhabitats. Because M. crassus occurs in several habitats of the highlands, it was used as a model for investigating the effect of habitat parameters on species composition of fleas within a host species. Water balance parameters investigated were the range of humidities over which active water uptake occurs in the larvae and prepupae of X. ramesis and X. conformis. Critical equilibrium humidity estimates were close to 65% RH for larvae and prepupae of both species. Water loss rates were determined for each life stage, except eggs, and represented water loss from cuticular, respiratory, and other body openings) under conditions of little or no bulk air movement. When converted to a proportional rate (1.44 -2.37% mass loss h(-1)) water loss rates did not differ significantly between stages or species. Thus, geographic separation of X. ramesis and X. conformis could not be explained by any difference in water uptake capabilities or water loss rates. Other factors that may be important include interspecific competition for resource availability among larval fleas and effect of soil texture on cocoon construction.

Host–habitat relations as an important determinant of spatial distribution of flea assemblages (Siphonaptera) on rodents in the Negev Desert

We studied flea assemblages on rodents in different habitats of the Ramon erosion cirque in the Negev Desert to examine whether host-habitat relations influence flea spatial distribution. Eleven flea species parasitizing 12 rodent species were recorded. There was significant positive relationship between flea species richness and body mass of the host species; no relationships were found between relative richness of flea assemblage and either the number of habitats occupied by the host species or the size of host geographical range. The differences in pattern of flea parasitism among habitat types within host species were determined by both environmental features of a habitat and the specific pattern of habitat use by rodents. There was replacement of Xenopsylla conformis by Xenopsylla ramesis on Meriones crassus and Gerbillus dasyurus among different habitats. The results of ordination of the flea collections from each individual host demonstrated that the flea assemblages were segregated mainly along 4 axes, which explained 86% of total variance. Each of the ordination axes corresponded with a change in flea species composition. The directions of these changes were (1) among-hosts within a habitat and (2) among-habitats within a host.