Fleas

Question 1

Dog fleas

Answer 1

Ctenocephalides felis (main)
Archaeopsyllus (hedgehog flea)
Ctenocephalidus canis

Question 2

Cat fleas

Answer 2

Ctenocephalides felis (main)
Hedgehog flea
Rabbit flea

Question 3

Flea vectors

Answer 3

Ctenocephalides transmits yersinia pestis bacilli - cause plague
Rabbit flea transmit myxoma virus

Question 4

Poultry fleas

Answer 4

Ceratophyllus gallinae - life cycle similar to cat and dog fleas
Infestation builds up in poultry house
Echidnophaga gallinacae (stick toght flea) - tropical flea of poultry, adults remain attached semi permanently to host (around head)

Question 5

Adaptations

Answer 5

Wingless
Laterally flattened
Strong legs - can jump 150x body length
Many backwards directed spines amd combs to prevent being dislodged by grooming

Question 6

Flea pife cycle

Answer 6

F lay eggs that roll off hist and fall to ground with blood pellet at rate of 20/d. Hatch (1-20d) and feed on blood pellet
Immature stages dev in bedding, negatively phototacic and positively geotacic so reside in carpets cracks and crevices
Moult twice then pupate (sticky cocoon collects debris for camo) (8-10d but a yr is possible) stimuli to emerge by heat CO2 movement vibration
Newly emerged adults positively phototaxic and negatively geotaxic and seek hosts by following air currents CO2 and seeking warmth
Mate only after blood feed
3-4wk cycle
Once on host they remain there until physically removed by grooming

Question 7

Feeding

Answer 7

Cut into skin with sawing mouthparts

Consume excess blood of own requirements to make pellets

Question 8

Enviro conditions optimum

Answer 8

30 degree c, 70-80% humidity
No stage can survive over 2d freezing
In temperate climates they survive outdoors on animals as adults or in microclimates as larvae
tiled floors least favourable
Not in open outdoor areas as destroyed by sunlight but can be found under bushes and buildings

Question 9

Survival against host d

Answer 9

Integument tough to protect against dessication
Body shape adapted to high mobility withing pelage and avoid removal by grooming
Rapid feeding with freq small meals to provide nutrients for small egg batches and aboid effects of hypersensitivity

Question 10

Internediate host for pathogens

Answer 10

Harbour oncosphere of dipylidiun caninum tapeworm
Infect host when ingested in grooming
Pathogen survives in flea for complete metamorphosis

Question 11

Clinical features gen

Answer 11

If dont react to allergens or irritants may only show few signs
Hypersens reactions may occur if sensitive eg type 1 &4

Question 12

Dog clin features

Answer 12

Key sites dorsolumbosacral region neck ventral abdomen and medial thigh
Primary lesion is erythamatous papule with secondary crusting
Self trauma can cause alopecia, etc
Secondary bact folliculitus can occur and some dermatitis

Question 13

Car clin signs

Answer 13

If have flea bute hypersens often have miliary dermatitis
Can also show epsin granuloma complex
Head and neck pruritus or symmetrical alopecia

Question 14

Diagnosis

Answer 14

Flea or faeces present using flea comb may not be able to find fleas on cats that fastidiously groom
Primary eruption and distribution and check if appropriate for diagnosis - are there lesions on the owner? As compatible clinical signs

Question 15

Flea management

Answer 15

Kill adult fleas usig affected and in contact animal treat with spot on
Elim enviro reservoir
Vaccuum repeatadly
Use drugs
Wash all bedding
Alleviate pruritus of animal if symptoms are severe

Question 16

Tunga penetrans

Answer 16

Tropical burrowing flea