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Fleas
Published in Jerome Goddard, Public Health Entomology, 2022
The life cycle of the cat flea is presented here as an example (Figure 11.1). Adult female fleas begin laying eggs 1–4 days after blood feeding. Bloodmeals are commonly obtained from medium-sized mammals, such as cats, dogs, raccoons, and opossums, but humans may be utilized as well. Females lay 10–20 eggs a day and may produce several hundred eggs in their lifetime. Eggs are normally deposited in nest litter, bedding, carpets, or other resting sites. Warm, moist conditions are needed for egg production. After the egg stage, spiny, yellowish-white larvae emerge which have chewing mouthparts and feed on host-associated debris, including food particles, dead skin, and feathers. Interestingly, blood spots defecated by adult fleas also serve as a food source for larvae. There are three larval molts (instars) prior to pupating. Flea larvae are prone to desiccation and will quickly die if continuously exposed to <60–70% relative humidity. For the pupal stage, flea larvae spin a loose silken cocoon interwoven with debris. During unfavorable environmental conditions, or if hosts are not available, developing adult fleas may remain inactive within the cocoon for extended periods. Subsequently, adult emergence from the cocoon may be triggered by vibrations resulting from host animal movements.
Biting insect and tick allergens
Published in Richard F. Lockey, Dennis K. Ledford, Allergens and Allergen Immunotherapy, 2020
Donald R. Hoffman, Jennifer E. Fergeson
Diagnostic studies of allergy to flea bites in humans performed by testing with whole-body extracts are complicated by the relatively more common occurrence of inhalant allergy to cat fleas. The major salivary allergen of cat fleas causing allergy in dogs is a protein of 18 kDa and pI 9.3, Cte f 1 [51].
Fleas
Published in Gail Miriam Moraru, Jerome Goddard, The Goddard Guide to Arthropods of Medical Importance, Seventh Edition, 2019
Gail Miriam Moraru, Jerome Goddard
Cat fleas are the fleas most often encountered by people in the United States (the dog flea is relatively rare in North America). Contrary to their name designation, dog fleas may feed on cats and cat fleas on dogs. In fact, in many areas the predominant flea species infesting dogs is the cat flea. Both species are mainly just pest species, although there is some evidence that cat fleas may transmit Rickettsia felis to humans. In addition, cat fleas are intermediate hosts of the dog tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, and their bites may produce papular urticaria. Children sometimes become infected with the tapeworm upon ingestion of an infected flea from a flea-infested dog or cat.
Cat Scratch Disease: Not a Benign Condition
Published in Ocular Immunology and Inflammation, 2018
Sandra Barros, Gabriel Costa de Andrade, Cecilia Cavalcanti, Heloisa Nascimento
Bartonela henselae has been demonstrated to be the principal cause of CSD; however, other agents have also been reported such as Bartonella quintana, Bartonella grahamii, and Bartonella elizabethae,4,5 especially in atypical disease or when serology is negative. It is transmitted to humans through a cat scratch, cat bite, cat saliva, or cat flea bite (mainly Ctenocephalides felis) although Ixodes ricinus plays a major role in Western Europe.6–8
Neuroretinitis Secondary to Bartonella Henselae in a Patient with Myelinated Retinal Nerve Fibers: Diagnostic Dilemmas and Treatment
Published in Ocular Immunology and Inflammation, 2019
Victoria Toumanidou, Anna Dastiridou, Nikolaos Kourtis, Sofia Androudi
Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is a zoonotic infection caused by Bartonella henselae (BH) that exhibits a worldwide spread.1 The transmission of BH from cats to humans frequently occurs through scratches, bites, or licks from infected cats and probably from the bite of an arthropod vector, Ctenocephalides felis, the cat flea.2