Fleas – Rabbit

Introduction

Ctenocephalides felis felis are contracted by house-rabbits from dogs and cats in the same household. Imidacloprid (Advantage®; Bayer) and Permethrin (Xenex Ultra®: Genitrix) are the licensed products.

Spilopsyllus cuniculi, the 'European rabbit flea' and Echidophagia mymecobil, the 'stickfast flea', are both found in and around the ears of pet rabbits that have contact with wild rabbits and are best treated with Advantage®. Stickfast fleas are a vector of myxomatosis. Spilopsyllus cuniculi or 'European rabbit flea' is the common flea in Europe and Australia while Cediopsylla simplex (common eastern rabbit flea) and Odontopsyllus multispinosis (giant eastern rabbit flea) are the North American equivalents.

Echidnophaga gallinacea or 'sticktight flea' is important mainly in domestic poultry (especially a serious pest of chickens). However it may also attack cats, dogs, rabbits and humans. It is most common in tropical areas throughout the world, but may be found in many sub-tropical and temperate habitats. After feeding female fleas burrows into the skin where they attach firmly with their mouthparts. Females aggregate on bare areas, often the head, comb or wattles. Each female may remain attached for between two and six weeks. The skin around the point of attachment may become ulcerated.