Fleas

Question 1

Outline the lifecycle of a flea.

Answer 1

1. Eggs are laid on the host
2. Eggs fall off into the environment
3. Larva
4. Feed on organic debris, flea faeces and tapeworm segments
5. Pupa
6. Spins a cocoon
7. Adult emerge
8. Feeds on host
9. Keeps feeding as it can only survive 3 days off host

Question 2

What does flea infections cause?

Answer 2

Pruritus
Alopecia
Excoriation
Self-wounding
Hypersensitivity
Anaemia
Vector borne diseases

Question 3

What is the name and identifier of poultry flea?

Answer 3

Echidnophaga
Does not have ctenidia (these have combs)

Question 4

Name 4 flea species that have ctenidia.

Answer 4

Ceratophillus
Ctenocephalides canis
Ctenocephalides felis
Spilopsyllus cuniculi

Question 5

Which species does ceratophillus infect?

Answer 5

Poultryt

Question 6

What is the appearance of ctenocephalides canis?

Answer 6

D shaped head
Very short first comb
Flatter headed

Question 7

What is the appearance of ctenocephalides felis?

Answer 7

Longer first comb

Question 8

What is the appearance of the rabbit flea?

Answer 8

Spilopsyllus cuniculi has a distinctive head shape

Question 9

Describe myxamatosis.

Answer 9

Raabit flea/spilopsyllus cuniculi. Lumps and puffiness around head ad genitals, can progress to conjunctivitis and blindness.

Question 10

What are 5 flea associated diseases?

Answer 10

Bartonella species
Coxiella burnetii
Hemoplasmas
Rickettsia
Yersinia pestis (cause of plague)

Question 11

Fleas are the key in the transmission of which tapeworm?

Answer 11

Dipylidium caninum

Question 12

Outline the process of flea transmitting tapeworms.

Answer 12

1. Proglottids passed in faeces
2. Proglottids release eggs in environment
3. Ingested by intermediate flea larvae and Trichodectes canis/dog chewing louse
4. Ingested by the cat/dog (for example, during grooming)
5. Tapeworm in cat/dog