Lecture: flea allergy Flashcards
1
Q
Flea biology
A
- Order: siphonoptera
- Chitin exoskeleton with hairs and spines
- laterally compressed body
- three pairs of jointed legs
- resistent to high pressure and cold temps
- Males smaller than females
- can accelerate 50X rate of space shuttle
- can jump equivalent of a man jumping 1,000 ft
2
Q
Most common flea of dogs and cats
A
Ctenocephalides felis
3
Q
Human flea
A
pulex irritans
4
Q
Avian stick tight flea
A
- Echidnophagia gallinacea
- exposure to birds or pouldry farms
- easily seen on margin of pinnae
5
Q
Ctenocephalides felis
Transmission of disease
A
- Can harbor plague
- murine typhus and tularemia
- dipylidium caninum
- cat scratch fever
- tapeworks (I think)
6
Q
Ctenocephalides felis
biology
A
- not host specific
- adult spends entire life on host
- life cycle 21 days in fl
- doesn’t survive high altitude or low humidity
7
Q
Ctenocephalides felis
Eggs
A
- laid after blood meal
- fall off host into environment
- resistent to all insecticides except IgR
8
Q
Ctenocephalides felis
Larvae
A
- Present in environment
- covered with small hairs
- molt twice
- move away from light and hot temp
- rudimentary eyes
- limited movement
- eat small organic debris/blood filled flea feces
- vacuuming helps
9
Q
Flea feces
A
- fecal coil
- long coil = uninterrupted feeding
10
Q
Ctenocephalides felis
Optimum env
A
- 65-80 degrees F
- 65-75% humidity
11
Q
Flea cacoon/pupa
A
-
most resistant stage
- resistent to freezing, desiccation, insectisides
- difficult to remove by vacuuming
- Larva uses environmental material
- can be dormant for months
12
Q
Emergency of young fleas from pupa
A
- mechanical pressure/vibration
- body temp
- low conc CO2
- young animals seek host and blood
13
Q
Flea allergy
predisposing factors
A
- Lack of exposure neonatally or at a young age
- Intermittent exposure
- small amounts
- atopy
14
Q
Flea allergy
hypersensitivity
A
- Type 1
- IgE mediated
- mast cells and histamine
- IgE mediated
- Type 4
- delayed sensitivity
- cell mediated: lymphocytes => T-cells
*mixed pathogenesis can screw up a intradermal test
15
Q
Clinical signs of FAD
A
- Primary lesion = papule
- Pruritis
- one of three most pruritic dz in dogs
- self-trauma and absence of fleas
- worsens with time
- signs can be seasonal
19
Q
A
Manifestations of flea allergies
