Exam 2 - Flea Allergy Dermatitis Flashcards
what is the most common flea of dogs & cats?
ctenocephalides felis
T/F: flea allergy dermatitis is a common exacerbating factor of other pruritic skin diseases in cats & dogs
true
what is the name of the human flea?
pulex irritans
how long is the life cycle of the flea?
14-200+ days
when do female fleas lay their first eggs on a cat or dog? how is this the start of the life cycle?
within 24-48 hours after feeding - lays roughly 40-50 eggs/day
consume up to 15x their body weight
saliva antigens injected into the animal’s skin which is what makes them itchy
what is the egg life cycle of the flea? how long does it last?
eggs drop off of the host to the ground - will be most concentrated where the animal spends the most time (dog bed)
2-10 days
what is the larval stage of the flea life cycle? how long does it last? why is it important that it has decreasing juvenile hormones?
easily desiccated by heat - prefers shaded areas, eats dander from pet
5-12 days
can use it as a pharmacologic target for eliminating fleas
what is the stimuli for emergence in the pupa stage in the flea life cycle? how long does it last?
heat & pressure
7-200 days
T/F: before a flea takes a blood meal, it is the only time it may jump from one pet to another
TRUE
why are the adult stage of the flea easiest to treat for? why does this complicate treatment?
we know where we they are in the environment
the adult stage is the smallest fraction of time in the flea life cycle
what is the hardest life cycle to treat for in eliminating fleas?
pupa
T/F: larva can be desiccated by heat, so they prefer shaded environments
true
what type of environment do adult fleas seek out?
light, CO2, & tactile stimuli
when do we see the majority of biomass in regards to the lifecycle fleas?
immature stages of life cycle
what environment is lethal to flea larva?
direct sunlight & rain
what is the ideal temperature & humidity for fleas?
70-85 F & 70-85% humidity
T/F: it only takes 1 flea bite to cause flea allergy dermatitis
false - if that were true, we would never be able to manage it
what are some common misconceptions held by owners in regards to fleas & flea treatment?
fleas jump from pet to pet - false
fleas are not a problem for indoor animals - false
fleas are only a problem in warmer months - false
it only takes 1 flea bite to cause flea allergy dermatitis - false
what are some problems fleas cause in companion animals?
flea bites resulting in dermatitis, nuisance to pets & peoples, anemia, blood-borne vectors
what is the most common cause of allergic skin disease in dogs & cats?
flea allergy dermatitis
T/F: adult fleas only represent 5-10% of the flea burden in the environment
true - rest is all of the immature life stages
T/F: flea allergy dermatitis causes otitis externa, pruritic lesions on their front feat, & on their face
false - does none of the above
what is the common pattern distribution seen in animals with flea bite dermatitis?
caudal body!!!!!! especially dorsal lumbosacral area, tail base, inguinal area, caudomedial thighs, & umbilical fold
if you don’t see fleas on an animal with pruritus throughout the dorsal lumbosacral area with self-induced alopecia, do you rule out flea bite dermatitis?
no - just because you don’t see one doesn’t rule it out