Lecture 4 - Insects: Siphonaptera Flashcards
What structures do AU, AT, MT and EP represent?
AU = eye AT= antenna MT = palps
EP = feeding tube
What structures are indicated by the arrow? What is this creature?
Anal struts - distinguishes a flea larvae .
Why are fleas obligate parasites?
Because female fleas need a bloodmeal to stimulate egg laying - therefore the host is intrinsically part of their life cycle.
What are three possible effects of flea parasitism on the host?
Any of:
- irritation
- hypersensitivity reaction
- anaemia
- infection with disease for which fleas are vector e.g D caninum or A. reconditum
Which image represents C. canis?
Left
What genus do cat and dog fleas belong to?
Ctenocephalides
Which species - Ct. canis or Ct. felis - is this tibia likely to be from?
Ctenocephalides canis.
Give four morphological features you might use to tell Ct. canis from Ct. felis.
Any of:
Head shape
First genal ctenidium length
Prominence of pores along back
Prominence of spines along back
Conformation of leg bristles at dorsal margin of hind tibia
Is this specimen most likely Ct. canis or Ct. felis?
Ctenocephalides felis
Which image represents Ctenocephalides felis?
Left
Which image represents Ctenocephalides canis?
Right
Name three anti-flea chemicals, their routes of administration and for which species.
e.g fluralaner (Bravecto) oral every 3 months, dogs only
imidacloprid (Advantage) spot on monthly dogs and cats
selamectin (Revolution) spot on monthly dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, ferrets, rabbit etc
Name one IGR for treatment of on-host fleas.
Lufenuron (topical)
List three actions you could take to eradicate environmental fleas in the home.
Any of:
- flea bomb (pyrethroids + IGRs)
- vacuum
- wash bedding (yours and pet’s)
- spray outside area e.g OPs, pyrethroids
What is the Class, Order and Genus of this creature? List two major morphological features that allow a genus ID.
What species does it parasitise?
Class: Insecta
Order: Siphonaptera
Genus: Echidnophaga
Echidnophagids have short thorax and no combs.
Echidnophagids are parasites of chickens, native animals
What is the latin name of the ‘stick-fast flea of poultry’?
Echidnophaga gallinacea
Which genus of Siphonaptera most commonly causes probelsm in free-range piggeries?
Pulex
What is the Class, Order and Genus of this creature. How did you make this ID?
Insecta
Siphonaptera
Pulex
No combs, but not hunched abdomen therefore must be Pulex, not Echidnophaga.
What is the genus of this creature? How did you ID it? What species does it parasitise and what are the consequences?
Spilopsyllus; has vertical genal comb (sideburn)
Specific parasite of rabbits (may be found on cats, but needs rabbits to breed). Vector for myxomatosis.
