Flea Biology and Control

Repeated exposure to flea bites induces flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) in susceptible dogs and cats.

“Repeated exposure to flea bites induces, in susceptible dogs and cats, a condition called flea allergy dermatitis (FAD).”

Blood-feeding adults of Ctenocephalides spp. may cause iron deficiency anaemia especially in puppies and kittens.

“Blood-feeding adults of Ctenocephalides spp. may cause iron deficiency anaemia especially in puppies and kittens [15,20].”

In long-lasting infections, adult animals may suffer blood loss and chronic anaemia.

“In the case of long-lasting infections, also adult animals may suffer of blood loss and chronic anaemia [15,20].”

FAD is a major clinical entity in pets, one of the most important skin conditions of household animals, and one of the most frequent causes for seeking veterinary advice.

“Along with other allergic diseases (e.g. food allergy diseases), FAD is a major clinical entity in pets, one of the most important skin conditions of household animals, and one of the most frequent causes for seeking veterinary advice [15,19].”

Dogs with FAD present with erythema, alopecia, excoriation, papules, crusts and itching often leading to self-traumas, while cats show a miliary dermatitis with nibbling, alopecia, intense pruritus, licking, scratching and self-traumas.

“Dogs with FAD (Figure 4) present with erythema, alopecia, excoriation, papules, crusts, itching often leading to self-traumas (Figure 5), while cats show a miliary dermatitis (Figure 6) with nibbling, alopecia (Figure 7), intense pruritus, licking, scratching, self-traumas [15-18].”

Fleas of pets are competent intermediate hosts of the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum.

“Fleas of pets are competent intermediate hosts of the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum.”

Animals and humans become infected with Dipylidium caninum by accidentally ingesting residues or whole fleas containing the infectious cysticercoid.

“Animals and humans become infected by accidentally ingesting residues or whole fleas containing the infectious cysticercoid.”

Dipylidium caninum may cause disease especially in children with low hygiene standards.

“Indeed, D. caninum may cause disease especially in children with low hygiene standards [9,15].”

Dipylidium caninum is the most prevalent cestode in dogs and cats and is often associated with pulicosis in pets, stray animals, kenneled dogs and cats in colonies.

“This zoonotic cestode is the most prevalent in dogs and cats and is often associated with pulicosis in pets, stray animals, kenneled dogs and cats in colonies.”