Fleas Flashcards
most common flea in clinics
ctenocephalides felis (dogs and cats)
Are fleas host specific?
no
adult flea is found
on the animal
duration of life cycle
3 weeks!!
fleas dont like ____ altitude and ___ humidity.
high altitude, low humidity (opposite of florida)
All but the adult are found
in the environment
Eggs
laid after blood meal
fall off host into environment
resistant to all insecticides but IgR
Larva
- present in environment, covered in hairs that like to wrap around carpet
- larvae molt twice
- move away from light and hot temperature,attracted to dark and warm
- eat organic debris and blood filled flea feces (flea dirt) (vacuuming removes the dirt)
optimum temperature/season
65-80 degrees F
Spring and Fall especially
Coccoon or pupa
- hardest to kill
- can be dormant for many months, vibration/CO2/temperature can induce hatching completing cycle
need to be a _______ to get a flea allergy
genetic disposition
Mixed hypersensitivity
I - IgE
Delayed - cell mediated 24 hrs later
Cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity
primary lesion in fleas
papule
back half of dog, lower back,perineum, tailhead, hind legs, umbilical region. chronic self truma
clinical signs of FAD
- secondary staph infection
(causes most causes to need abx) - seasonal most of the time
(waxing and waning signs)
signs of FAD cats get that dogs don’t?
some get granuloma on chin/tongue, itchy plaques near groin
if they have fleas they can have
tapeworms
FAD diagnosis
IDST - negative doesn’t rule out, Whole flea antigen, observe for delayed sensitivity
FAD therapy
fleas?
secondary conditions?
IT? vax?
- Kill fleas
- treat pyoderma
- antipruritic therapy
- steroids can help but don’t keep on long, risk tachyphylaxis
- no antihistamines (bc doesn’t treat the sensitivity?)
- No immunotherapy or vaccines(vaccine would only be affective against type 1 but there is type IV also)
