Phylum Arthropdoa, Class Insecta, Order Siphonoptera Flashcards
Order: Siphonaptera
Fleas
Blood-sucking parasites
What are hosts to only a few species of fleas?
Dogs and cats
What is the saliva of fleas?
Antigenic and irritating
What does a flea infestation cause?
Severe anemia in puppies and kittens
Pruritus
Hypersensitivity
What are the diseases associated with fleas?
Flea bite Dermatitis Diplylidium caninum Acanthocheilonema reconditum Anemia Rickettsial diseases Plague (Yersinia pestis) Cat Scratch Disease
What is the common name of Ctenocephalides felis?
Cat flea
What is the host of Ctenocephalides felis?
Dogs and cats
What is an infestation of fleas called?
Siphonapterosis
What is partially digested blood (poop)?
Flea dirt
What are the characteristics of fleas?
Laterally compressed
Wingless
Legs for jumping
What species of flea is less common?
Ctenocephalides canis
What causes flea allergy dermatitis?
An allergy to the flea saliva
Just one or two fleas can cause severe pruritis
What stage is 5% of the flea population in at any given time?
The adult stage
What stage is 50% of the flea population in?
The egg stage
What is critical to control fleas?
Environmental control
Insect growth regulators (IGR)
What are some examples of topical flea control?
Frontline Plus
Advantage II
K9 Advantix
What ingredient in K9 Advantix II is toxic to cats?
Permethrin
What happens to the active ingredients in the topical flea control products?
They are stored in the sebaceous glands
Wicked out of the hair follicles
Continuously distributed to the coat for 30 days
What happens to the active ingredients in oral flea preventatives?
They are released slowly and stored in either the blood or tissue fluid and then kills the fleas as long as the concentration is high enough
Why does flea preventative from the vet cost so much more than at the pet store?
Prescription flea preventatives contain an insect growth regulator that kills flea eggs and larvae
What is important to remember in regards to flea control?
95% of the life cycle is off the pet
What do you need to treat the environment with to get rid of fleas?
Residual spray, bombs, outdoor sprays and yard sprays
Treat the environment again in 8 weeks
Phylum Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order Mallophaga
Biting and chewing lice
What are the characteristics of biting and chewing lice?
Broad, rounded head
Feed on epithelial debris
Move rapidly over the host
Smaller than sucking lice
