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| | [[Flea Habitat and Control]] | | [[Flea Habitat and Control]] |
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| − | ==Habitats==
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| − | *Only approximately '''5%''' of the flea population will be on the animal at any one time (and usually it is a much smaller percentage)
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| − | *The rest of the population are in the '''environment'''
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| − | **E.g. Eggs, larvae, pupae and unfed adults
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| − | *Fleas accumulate in certain '''hot spots''' where the animal spends the majority of its time
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| − | **E.g. Warm, shady, humid ares
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| − | **E.g. Outdoors in warmer climates or inside in temperate climates
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| − | *Very large numbers of eggs are found in areas where cats land after jumping as they have been dislodged
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| − | **E.g. Beside sofas
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| − | ==Control==
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| − | [[Image:Flea Dirt.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Flea Dirt - Wikimedia Commons]]
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| − | [[Image:Flea Bites.jpg|right|Thumb|150px|Flea bites on a human - Wikimedia Commons]]
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| − | *Single or occasional treatments will only give temporary relief from fleas as the majority of the population is '''in the environment'''
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| − | *Appropriate action must be taken to stop re-infestation
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| − | *The animal must be rid of its resident flea population
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| − | *The animal should be protected against subsequent re-infestation
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| − | **From within the home
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| − | **From outside the home
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| − | *The environmental reservoir population should be eliminated
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| − | **Animal treatment to deplete reservoir
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| − | ***Adulticides
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| − | ***Adulticides with larvicidal effects
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| − | ***Insect growth regulators (IGR's)
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| − | **Direct chemical treatment of domestic environment
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| − | ***Insecticides
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| − | ***Insect growth regulators
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| − | ***Inorganic chemicals
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| − | ***Entomophagous nematodes (These are parasitic nematodes which predate other parasite eggs)
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| − | *To prevent resistance occurring, control methods should not rely solely on chemical methods
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| − | **Hygiene such as regular vacuuming and washing of the animal's bedding should also occur for the most effective treatment
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| − | *For more information on the chemicals used for flea treatment click [[Ectoparasiticides|here]]
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| | ==Species of veterinary importance== | | ==Species of veterinary importance== |
