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PubMed2005

Sex-biased parasitism, seasonality and sexual size dimorphism in desert rodents.

We investigated seasonality of gender differences in the patterns of flea infestation in nine rodent species to test if sex-biased parasitism in terms of mean abundance, species richness, prevalence and the level of aggregation (a) varies among hosts and between seasons, and (b) is linked to sexual size dimorphism. Sexual size differences were significant in both summer and winter in Acomys cahirinus, Gerbillus pyramidum and Meriones crassus, and in winter only in Acomys russatus, Gerbillus dasyurus, Gerbillus nanus and Sekeetamys calurus. Sexual size dimorphism was male biased except for A. russatus in which it was female biased. Manifestation of sexual differences in flea infestation was different among hosts between seasons. A significant effect of sex on mean flea abundance was found in six hosts, on mean flea species richness in five hosts and on prevalence in two hosts. Male-biased parasitism was found in summer in one host only and in winter in five hosts. Female-biased parasitism occurred in winter in A. russatus. Gender differences in the slopes of the regressions of log-transformed variances against log-transformed mean abundances occurred in three hosts. No relationship was found between sexual size dimorphism and any parasitological parameter in any season using both conventional regressions and the method of independent contrasts. Our results suggest that sex-biased parasitism is a complicated phenomenon that involves several different mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Prevalence, risk factors, and genetic diversity of Bartonella henselae infections in pet cats in four regions of the United States.

Blood was collected from a convenience sample of 271 pet cats aged 3 months to 2 years (mean age, 8 months, median and mode, 6 months) between May 1997 and September 1998 in four areas of the United States (southern California, Florida, metropolitan Chicago, and metropolitan Washington, D.C.). Sixty-five (24%) cats had Bartonella henselae bacteremia, and 138 (51%) cats were seropositive for B. henselae. Regional prevalences for bacteremia and seropositivity were highest in Florida (33% and 67%, respectively) and California (28% and 62%, respectively) and lowest in the Washington, D.C. (12% and 28%, respectively) and Chicago (6% and 12%, respectively) areas. No cats bacteremic with B. clarridgeiae were found. The 16S rRNA type was determined for 49 B. henselae isolates. Fourteen of 49 cats (28.6%) were infected with 16S rRNA type I, 32 (65.3%) with 16S rRNA type II, and three (6.1%) were coinfected with 16S rRNA types I and II. Flea infestation was a significant risk factor for B. henselae bacteremia (odds ratio = 2.82, 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 7.3). Cats >or=13 months old were significantly less likely to be bacteremic than cats <or=6 months old (odds ratio = 0.18, 95% confidence interval, 0.05 to 0.61). Flea infestation, adoption from a shelter or as a stray cat, hunting, and being from Florida or California were significant risk factors for B. henselae seropositivity. DNA fingerprint was significantly associated with region (P = 0.03) and indoor/outdoor status of cats (P = 0.03).

Aging↗
PubMed1993

Fleas (Siphonaptera) infesting giant kangaroo rats (Dipodomys ingens) on the Elkhorn and Carrizo Plains, San Luis Obispo County, California.

The giant kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ingens (Merriam), has a limited distribution in the San Joaquin Valley, CA. Because of reductions in its geographic range, largely resulting from humans, the species was listed as an endangered species in 1980 by the California Fish and Game Commission. As part of a study of the community ecology of southern California endangered species, including D. ingens, we were able to make flea collections from the rats when they were trapped and marked for population studies. All but one of the fleas collected from the D. ingens in this study were Hoplopsyllus anomalus, a flea normally associated with ground squirrels (Sciuridae). It has been suggested that giant kangaroo rats fill the ground squirrel niche within their range. Our data indicate that this role includes a normal association with Hoplopsyllus anomalus.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Imidacloprid/moxidectin topical solution for the prevention of heartworm disease and the treatment and control of flea and intestinal nematodes of cats.

Sixteen controlled laboratory studies, involving 420 kittens and cats, were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topically applied formulations of imidacloprid and moxidectin for the prevention of feline heartworm disease, treatment of flea infestations and treatment and control of intestinal nematodes. Unit-dose applicators and the dosing schedule used in these studies were designed to provide a minimum of 10mg imidacloprid and 1mg moxidectin/kg. Treatments were applied topically by parting the hair at the base of the skull and applying the solution on the skin. Imidacloprid treatment alone did not display activity against Dirofilaria immitis or intestinal nematodes and moxidectin treatment alone provided little or no activity against adult Ctenocephalides felis infestations. The formulation containing 10% imidacloprid and 1% moxidectin was 100% efficacious against the development of adult D. immitis infections when cats were treated 30 days after inoculation with third-stage larvae. A single treatment with this formulation also provided 88.4-100% control of adult C. felis for 35 days. Imidacloprid/moxidectin was 100% efficacious against adult Toxocara cati and 91.0-98.3% efficacious against immature adults and fourth-stage T. cati larvae. The formulation provided 98.8-100% efficacy against adult Ancylostoma and immature adults and third-stage A. tubaeforme larvae. Monthly topical application with 10% imidacloprid/1% moxidectin is convenient, efficacious and safe for the prevention of feline heartworm disease, treatment of flea infestation and for the treatment and control of intestinal nematode infections of cats.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1975

Myxomatosis: passive immunity in the offspring of immune rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) infested with fleas (Spilopsyllus cuniculi Dale) and exposed to myxoma virus.

Kittens with maternal antibodies to myxoma virus, the offspring of rabbits which had recovered from myxomatosis, were exposed to fleas contaminated with myxoma virus and/or contact with infected rabbits from birth. All kittens died or became infected before 8 weeks of age. When compared with adult animals similarly infected the kittens showed no advantage in terms of survival time or recovery rate attributable to maternal antibodies. Flea transmission of virus was found more effective than contact transmissions.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Control of fleas on naturally infested dogs and cats and in private residences with topical spot applications of fipronil or imidacloprid.

Thirty-four flea-infested dogs and cats residing in 20 homes in Tampa, FL were randomly placed into 1 of 2 treatment groups during the summer of 1997. Pets were treated topically with either 10.0%w/v imidacloprid or 10%w/v fipronil spot-on on day 0, then once for every 28-30 days for 90 days. Flea populations were assessed in the environment using an intermittent-light trap, while pet flea burdens were assessed using visual area counts. A single application of imidacloprid was 95.3 and 97.4% effective in reducing flea populations on pets at 7 and 28 days, respectively. A single application of fipronil was 97.5 and 97.0% effective in reducing flea populations on pets at the same time points. Following 3 monthly applications of either imidacloprid or fipronil, flea burdens on pets were reduced by 99.5 and 96.5%, respectively. In addition, flea numbers in the in-home environment were reduced by 99. 0 and 98.6% in homes, where pets were treated with imidacloprid or fipronil, respectively.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1992

Influence of photoperiod on egg production of cat fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) infesting cats.

Photoperiod affected the production of cat flea eggs by cats infested with cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché). Cat flea eggs have a smooth chorion and do not adhere to the host. About 60% of fluorescing eggs placed in the pelage were recovered in collecting trays underneath the host in 2 h. An average of 87.7 eggs per cat was laid during the last 8 h of the scotophase compared with 49.9 and 59.1 eggs during the other 8-h periods. Significant variation in the number of eggs collected daily existed among the six cats. The activity budgets were similar for all the cats with the maximum sleep period during the photophase. The possible adaptive advantages of synchronizing egg production with photoperiod are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of thumb-counting and comb-counting methods to determine Ctenocephalides felis infestation levels on dogs.

Comb-counting and thumb-counting were compared in a cross-over study to determine which was more accurate for quantifying flea infestation levels on dogs. Twenty beagle dogs were used in the study and infested with either 50 or 100 adult fleas (Ctenocephalides felis). Two groups of five dogs each were infested with either 50 or 100 fleas per dog, and then comb-counted with a fine-toothed flea comb for 8 min periods. An additional two groups of five dogs each were also given 50 or 100 fleas, and then thumb-counted. The counting time for this technique is both lower and more variable because the fleas are only observed and not captured; thus, the speed at which the dog is covered must be increased in order to prevent counting the same fleas more than once. The mean time of thumb-counting per dog was 3.2 min. Fleas removed during comb-counting were placed back on the dog they were taken from after the count was concluded. At the cross-over point, the ten dogs that had been comb-counted were then thumb-counted and the ten dogs that had been thumb-counted were comb-counted. The results showed that comb-counting recovered significantly (P < or = 0.05) more fleas than did thumb-counting. On dogs given 50 and 100 fleas, comb-counting gave mean percentage recoveries of 67.6% and 75.4%, respectively, whereas thumb-counting found means of 8.8% and 7.7%, respectively. The order in which the counting methods were employed produced no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the number of fleas counted.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

A further comparison of the thumb-counting and comb-counting techniques used to determine Ctenocephalides felis infestation levels on dogs.

A comparison was made to determine whether thumb-counting or comb-counting was more accurate for determining flea infestation levels on dogs when performed for equal periods of time. To accomplish this, ten beagle dogs were each infested with 100 adult fleas, Ctenocephalides felis. After the fleas were allowed to disperse for 1 h the dogs were examined using the thumb-counting method. The time required to cover each dog and the number of fleas counted were recorded. Thumb-counting times ranged from 3.0 to 4.8 min. Each of the dogs was then examined by the comb-counting method for the same amount of time it had been thumb-counted. The thumb-counting method detected a geometric mean of five (range, 0-13) fleas per dog, while comb-counting recovered a mean of 73.5 (range, 57-87) fleas per dog. These results were significantly different (P < 0.01), indicating that the differences in accuracy previously recorded for the two methods are independent of time. The standard deviations for both methods were also statistically significantly different, suggesting that comb-counting is also more precise than the thumb-counting method.

Animals↗
PubMed1950

Newer insecticides and scabicides.

Experimental and clinical data show that taking thiamine chloride internally protects against flea bites. Application of DDT powder to the breeding places of fleas controls infestation. Clinical data appear to show that the use of an ointment containing gamma isomer hexachlorocyclohexane is an effective and pleasant means of treating scabies.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Pilot study to assess the effects of early flea exposure on the development of flea hypersensitivity in cats.

This pilot study was to determine if early oral flea exposure reduces the incidence of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) in cats. Eighteen kittens, assigned to three groups, received no flea exposure, oral flea exposure or flea infestation for 12 weeks. Then all the kittens were exposed continually to fleas for 31 weeks. Sensitization was monitored using intradermal testing (IDT), in vitro measurement of anti-flea saliva immunoglobulin E (IgE) and development of FAD. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in IDT reactions, in vitro data or clinical scores. The development of FAD was not associated with the presence of anti-flea saliva IgE. However, the development of a delayed reaction to flea bite was associated with symptoms after flea exposure. Although not statistically significant, the FAD scores in the oral group were lower than in the controls. Further studies are required to determine the role of oral flea exposure in the development of FAD in cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Epidemiologic and clinical features of an outbreak of bubonic plague in New Mexico.

An outbreak of seven cases of bubonic plague in New Mexico was investigated. Clinical features were studied and correlated with field studies in an attmept to determine the source of infection in patients with indefinite histories of exposure. Most patients presented with fever, malaise, and an acute painful lymphadenitis (bubo). One death occurred in a patient with bubonic-septicemic plague complicated by meningitis due to Yersinia pestis. All patients lived in rural or semirural areas, and most had been in the general vicinity of their usual residence during the six days prior to onset of symptoms. The outbreak was associated with probable epizootics in rodents in two different areas of the state. One case was traced to direct hand contact with plague-infected rabbits. One patient developed insect bites after sleeping in the same bed with a flea-infested cat. Three of the other five patients had insect bites, presumably flea bites, but none of the five recalled contact with rodents or rabbits. Four of the five, however, had been in contact with dogs or cats that were later shown to have titers of antibody to Y. pestis. These findings provide further support for the hypothesis that contact with domestic dogs and cats may result in direct or indirect transmission of Y. pestis to humans.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Spectrophotometric method of quantifying adult cat flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) feces.

Cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché), feces are an essential part of larval nutrition under natural conditions. The mass values of adult flea feces can be measured by dissolving samples of flea feces in Drabkin's reagent, filtering, centrifuging, and measuring absorbance spectrophotometrically at 540 nm. Either flea feces or air-dried host blood can be used to generate the standard curve used to convert absorbance (optical density) values into mass values. Debris collected from flea-infested house cats averaged 23.02 mg debris per cat per h with an average of 10.41 mg flea feces per cat per h. Flea feces deposited in the environment serve as potential larval food. Adult flea feces comprised an average of 44.28% of the debris deposited from infested domestic house cats in this study.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Control of Ctenocephalides felis on dogs and cats using the insect growth regulator (or chitin synthesis inhibitor) lufenuron Program, in Egypt.

Lufenuron, the chitin synthesis inhibitor (Program, Novartis-Switzerland) was given orally at doses of 10-mg/kg b/w to dogs and 30-mg/kg b/w to cats every four weeks (monthly) for the treatment of experimental flea infestations. Three to four weeks after the last infestation, Lufenuron had effectively controlled the Ct. felis infestation of dogs and cats as the drug prevented the development of the offspring of adult female fleas feeding on animals. Flea populations were absent or very low and remained so until the end of the study, 91 days after the first treatment.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2004

Field efficacy of deltamethrin for rodent flea control in San Bernardino County, California, USA.

A study was conducted to determine the initial and residual activity of deltamethrin (0.05% dust) applied to rodent burrows (at approximately 14 g/burrow) against fleas in the Silverwood Lake area of San Bernardino County. In initial toxicity (2-d post-treatment), deltamethrin provided 97% flea control and in residual toxicity it resulted in 68% control of the rodent fleas at 15-d post-treatment. The flea fauna consisted of Oropsylla montana (89.9%) and Hoplopsylls anomalus (10.1%). All rodents captured in this study were California ground squirrels, Spermophilus beecheyi. In mark-release-recapture trials, using the microchip identification implant method at the treatment site, the recapture rate of rodents was 29% from 2- to 58-d post-treatment, declining to 21% after 98 d. In the tail-clip method at the treatment site, the recapture rate of 40% at 15-d post-treatment rose to 87% and 73% at 56- and 58-d post-treatment, respectively. At the control site, the recapture rate of 100% at 15-d post-post-treatment dropped to 20% after 98 d. In another trial at Camp Cedar Crest in the Running Springs area, deltamethrin applied to rodent burrows resulted in 70% control of fleas infesting S. beecheyi. Based on the two trials, deltamethrin showed a good initial control of rodent fleas in enzootic or epizootic plague control.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Mortality in calves, lambs and kids caused by severe infestation with the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835) in Israel.

Heavy infestation of calves, lambs and kids with the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835), accompanied by severe anaemia and mortality, is described. Lambs and kids were affected more severely than calves. Flea infestation was more widespread in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. The clinical findings are discussed in the light of the pertinent literature.

Anemia↗
PubMed1993

Fleas and lice on scrub hares (Lepus saxatilis) in South Africa.

A total of 380 scrub hares (Lepus saxatilis) from 5 localities, ranging from the north-eastern Transvaal to the eastern and the south-western Cape Province of South Africa, were examined for fleas and lice. Ctenocephalides felis damarensis was almost exclusively responsible for the flea infestations on hares at 4 of the 5 sites. At 4 localities the prevalence and abundance of this flea reached peaks between August and October and declined thereafter to their lowest levels between February and April. Its prevalence and abundance in the north-eastern Transvaal were not correlated with the breeding cycle of the hares in this region. The 2 louse species recovered, sometimes sympatrically, were Haemodipsus lyriocephalus and Haemodipsus setoni. Listrophorus leporicolus was the only mite species recovered.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

First report of Siphonaptera infesting Microtus (Microtus) cabrerae (Rodentia-Muridae-Arvicolinae) in Cuenca, Spain and notes about the morphologic variability of Ctenophthalmus (Ctenophthalmus) apertus personatus (Insecta-Siphonaptera-Ctenophthalmidae).

The fleas infesting Microtus (Microtus) cabrerae from three different areas of Cuenca province (Spain) have been studied. It is the first time that on ectoparasitological study of this badly known rodent has been done. Four Siphonaptera species have been detected: Rhadinopsylla (Actenophthalmus) pentacantha, Peromyscopsylla spectabilis spectabilis, Nosopsyllus fasciatus and Ctenophthalmus (Ctenophthalmus) apertus personatus, which was the most abundant species (26 males and 31 females of a total of 28 males and 35 females). Considering the great morphologic variability within the male processus basimerus ventralis (p.b.v.) of segment IX of C. personatus subspecies, three morphotypes have been recognised. The male polymorphism detected, would be the result of both host confinement and genetic selection acting on the parasite. It should be pointed out that C. (C.) apertus personatus is not narrowly host-specific, therefore further studies are required to clarify this taxonomic situation.

Animals↗