Fleas

Question 1

most common flea in clinics

Answer 1

ctenocephalides felis (dogs and cats)

Question 2

Are fleas host specific?

Answer 2

no

Question 3

adult flea is found

Answer 3

on the animal

Question 4

duration of life cycle

Answer 4

3 weeks!!

Question 5

fleas dont like ____ altitude and ___ humidity.

Answer 5

high altitude, low humidity (opposite of florida)

Question 6

All but the adult are found

Answer 6

in the environment

Question 7

Eggs

Answer 7

laid after blood meal
fall off host into environment
resistant to all insecticides but IgR

Question 8

Larva

Answer 8

• 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)

Question 9

optimum temperature/season

Answer 9

65-80 degrees F

Spring and Fall especially

Question 10

Coccoon or pupa

Answer 10

• hardest to kill

- can be dormant for many months, vibration/CO2/temperature can induce hatching completing cycle

Question 11

need to be a _______ to get a flea allergy

Answer 11

genetic disposition

Question 12

Mixed hypersensitivity

Answer 12

I - IgE
Delayed - cell mediated 24 hrs later
Cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity

Question 13

primary lesion in fleas

Answer 13

papule

back half of dog, lower back,perineum, tailhead, hind legs, umbilical region. chronic self truma

Question 14

clinical signs of FAD

Answer 14

• secondary staph infection
  (causes most causes to need abx)
• seasonal most of the time
  (waxing and waning signs)

Question 15

signs of FAD cats get that dogs don’t?

Answer 15

some get granuloma on chin/tongue, itchy plaques near groin

Question 16

if they have fleas they can have

Answer 16

tapeworms

Question 17

FAD diagnosis

Answer 17

IDST - negative doesn’t rule out, Whole flea antigen, observe for delayed sensitivity

Question 18

FAD therapy
fleas?
secondary conditions?
IT? vax?

Answer 18

• 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)