Fleas

INSECTA PARASITES

Siphonaptera Introduction

Fleas are wingless insects that are laterally flattened so can move rapidly through hair and fur. Their hind legs are adapted for jumping. They are of major significance to veterinary practice and will be seen almost on a daily basis at most general practices.

Adult fleas are blood sucking ectoparasites which can cause pruritis, annoyance and anaemia if present in large numbers. Flea allergic dermatitis can also occur where the animal becomes allergic to the antigens in the flea saliva triggering a hypersensitivity reaction when the flea bites.

Fleas can also act as intermediate hosts and vectors.

The terms ctenidia and combs can be used interchangably for spines on the head/thorax. Spines on the cheeks are referred to as genal and spines on the thorax are called pronotal combs.

Species of Veterinary Importance

Other important flea species

• Nosopsyllus fasciatus
  • Rodents
  • 18-20 spines in pronotal ctenidium

• Echisnophaga gallinacea
  • Poultry
  • Frons (forehead) angled anteriorly

• Archaeopsylla erinacei
  • Hedgehogs
  • 1-3 short spines on genal ctendium
• 1 short spine on pronotal ctenidium

Links

• Flea allergic dermatitis (FAD)

• Fleas acts as intermediate hosts for Dipylidium tapeworms

• Fleas act as vectors for myxomatosis in rabbits