Cat flea

Cat flea
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Siphonaptera
Family:	Pulicidae
Genus:	Ctenocephalides
Species:	C. felis
Binomial name
Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché, 1835)

The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, is one of the most abundant and widespread fleas on the globe.

Overview

The cat flea's primary host is the domestic cat, but this is also the primary flea infesting dogs in most of the world. The cat flea can also maintain its life cycle on other carnivores and on the Virginia opossum. Rabbits, rodents, ruminants and humans can be infested or bitten, but a population of cat fleas cannot be sustained by these aberrant hosts^[1].

Life cycle

Photo showing some characteristics used to identify from other fleas, including genal comb

The female cat flea lays her eggs on the host, but the eggs, once dry, have evolved to filter out of the haircoat of the host into the resting and sheltering area of the host.

Flea larva showing red ingested blood

The eggs hatch into larvae, which are negatively phototaxic, meaning that they hide from light in the substrate. Flea larvae feed on a variety of organic substances, but most importantly subsist on dried blood that is filtered out of the haircoat of the host after it is deposited there as adult flea fecal material. Thus the adult population on the host feeds the larval population in the host's environment.

Flea fecal material, here combed from a cat, is also called flea dirt or flea clipings

Flea larvae metamorphose through 4 stages before spinning a cocoon and entering the pupal stage. The pupal stage varies greatly in length; the pre-emergent flea does not normally emerge as a young adult flea until the presence of a potential host is perceived by warmth or vibration. Newly emerged fleas are stimulated to jump to a new host within seconds of emerging from the cocoon. The new flea begins feeding on host blood within minutes ^{[2] [3] [4]}.

Effects on the hosts

A few fleas on adult dogs or cats cause little harm unless the host becomes allergic to substances in saliva. The disease that results is called flea allergy dermatitis. Small animals with large infestations can lose enough bodily fluid to fleas feeding that dehydration may result. Fleas are also responsible for disease transmission through humans.

A kitten receiving a flea bath to treat a flea infestation.

If the fleas have been sucking blood, then they will have a reddish-brown colour when squashed.

Disease transmission

Cat fleas can transmit other parasites and infections to dogs and cats and also to humans. The most prominent of these are Bartonella, murine typhus, and apedermatitis. The tapeworm Dipylidium caninum can be transmitted when a flea is swallowed by pets or humans. In addition, cat fleas have been found to carry Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease, but their ability to transmit the disease is unclear.^[5]

See also

• Pulicosis (Flea bites)

References

External links

• Integrated Flea Control from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County
• cat flea on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
• About Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea): taxonomy, life cycle, transmitted diseases, eradication at MetaPathogen

Flea Treatment

• How to Rid Your Pet of Fleas from Wikihow
• Finding and Eliminating Fleas on Your Cat from the BBC
• Pet Products to Control Pests from the US Food and Drug Administration