Influence of Bloodmeal Host on Blood Feeding, Egg Production, and Offspring Sex Ratio of Ctenocephalides felis felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

Effects of blood meal source on blood consumption and reproductive success of cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis

Cat fleas, small blood-feeding ectoparasites that feed on humans and animals, cause discomfort through their bites, and can transmit numerous diseases to animals and humans. Traditionally, fleas have been reared for research on live animals, but this process requires animal handling permits, inflicts discomfort on animals, and requires money and time to maintain the host animals. Although artificial membrane-based feeding systems have been implemented, these methods are not sustainable in the long term because they result in lower blood consumption and egg production than those with rearing on live hosts. To maximize these parameters, we tested blood from four hosts to determine the most suitable blood, on the basis of blood consumption and egg production. We also tested the effects of adding the phagostimulant adenosine-5´-triphosphate to the blood to maximize blood consumption. In 48 hours, fleas fed dog blood consumed the most blood, averaging 9.5 μL per flea, whereas fleas fed on cow, cat, or human blood consumed 8.3 μL, 5.7 μL, or 5.2 μL, respectively. Addition of 0.01 M and 0.1 M adenosine-5´-triphosphate to dog and cow blood did not enhance blood consumption. In a 1-week feeding period, the total egg production was also greatest in fleas fed dog blood, with females producing 129.5 eggs, whereas females on cat, human, and cow blood produced 97.2, 83.0, and 70.7 eggs, respectively. The observed results in dog blood indicate an improvement over previously reported results in cat fleas fed with an artificial feeding system. Improving the sustainability of rearing cat flea colonies without feeding on live animals will enable more humane and convenient production of this pest for scientific research.

Urban ecology of hosts and vectors of Rickettsia in a rickettsiosis-endemic city of the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico

Rickettsioses are vector-borne zoonotic diseases that occur in urban environments. Currently, they are associated with the presence of domestic and synanthropic animals, the ectoparasites that they harbor, and their local habitat. The implementation of prevention actions relies on the understanding of the local ecology of interactions between hosts, vector species, and the etiologic agents. In this context, this study aimed to explore and describe the occurrence of infected mammals and their ectoparasites in human urban dwellings, and those characteristics of urban dwellings associated to the presence of Rickettsia infected animals in groups of households where at least one human case of rickettsiosis has occurred in the previous year of the study. Briefly, blood-samples and ectoparasites from synanthropic and domestic animals, were obtained from groups of households from different areas of an urban settlement. Serologic and molecular diagnostics helped to identify Spotted Fever Group (SFG) and TG (Typhus Group) Rickettsia in animal and ectoparasite samples. A total of 99 mammals were sampled, 29 opossums (Didelphis virginiana), 13 house mice (Mus musculus), seven black rats (Rattus rattus) and 50 dogs. Infection occurrence in opossums was 8.3% of SFG, 50% for TG, and 4.2% of undetermined group. For house mice 46.2% for SFG and 30.8% were undetermined. Black rats 28.6% of SFG and 57.1% undetermined. Finally, dogs were 19.1% of SFG, 57.4% to TG, and 23.4% belonged to undetermined group. A total of 424 ectoparasites were collected from the mammals. In opossums occurred the ticks Ambyomma sp., Ornithodoros (Alecterobius) nr. talaje, and the flea Ctenocephalides felis. In dogs we found the ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus s. l., Amblyomma sp., O. (A.) nr. talaje, and the flea Ct. felis. No ectoparasites were collected from rodents. The occurrence of infected animals was associated primarily with the material of the backyard floor, the type of sanitary system in the household, the presence of garbage in the backyard, presence of firewood storage, stored polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers for sale to recyclers, and the store of construction supplies in the backyard. Nonetheless a generalized linear model showed that the household with a backyard with a dirt floor or other non-concrete material has more chances of harboring infected animals (RR= 1.74, 95% CI= 1.07-2.84 and RR= 1.03, 95% CI= 0.39-2.32 respectively). In contrast, when the house has a sanitary system of urban sewer system or a latrine outside de house, the chances of having infected animals decreased significantly (RR= 0.39, 95% CI= 0.12-0.94 and RR= 0.46, 95% CI= 0.03-2.22). We conclude that both SFG and TG rickettsioses occur in animals and their ectoparasites in peridomiciles of urban households were at least one human rickettsiosis case had occurred.

The Biology and Ecology of Cat Fleas and Advancements in Their Pest Management: A Review

The cat flea Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché) is the most important ectoparasite of domestic cats and dogs worldwide. It has been two decades since the last comprehensive review concerning the biology and ecology of C. f. felis and its management. Since then there have been major advances in our understanding of the diseases associated with C. f. felis and their implications for humans and their pets. Two rickettsial diseases, flea-borne spotted fever and murine typhus, have been identified in domestic animal populations and cat fleas. Cat fleas are the primary vector of Bartonella henselae (cat scratch fever) with the spread of the bacteria when flea feces are scratched in to bites or wounds. Flea allergic dermatitis (FAD) common in dogs and cats has been successfully treated and tapeworm infestations prevented with a number of new products being used to control fleas. There has been a continuous development of new products with novel chemistries that have focused on increased convenience and the control of fleas and other arthropod ectoparasites. The possibility of feral animals serving as potential reservoirs for flea infestations has taken on additional importance because of the lack of effective environmental controls in recent years. Physiological insecticide resistance in C. f. felis continues to be of concern, especially because pyrethroid resistance now appears to be more widespread. In spite of their broad use since 1994, there is little evidence that resistance has developed to many of the on-animal or oral treatments such as fipronil, imidacloprid or lufenuron. Reports of the perceived lack of performance of some of the new on-animal therapies have been attributed to compliance issues and their misuse. Consequentially, there is a continuing need for consumer awareness of products registered for cats and dogs and their safety.