Insecticidal Efficacy of Medicines During Cat Flea Infestations in Tyumen

From time immemorial people began to domesticate wild animals and throughout many generations, they are kept by people genetically isolated from external pathogens. In the prevailing era, every pet owner is trying to breed and protect his animal from contagious and noncontagious diseases. Having said that, lack and inadequacy of knowledge and mass media on simple preventive measures results in the widespread occurrence of infectious and invasive diseases, including flea, Ctenocephalides felis infestation among dogs as well as cats. The present paper primarily attempts to present the results of therapeutic efficiency of Komfortis, Foresto, and Fitoelita medical agents used during flea infestation among domestic cats. In order to meet the purpose of the study, research was carried out within the framework of study and analysis of the epizootic state of invasive diseases of agricultural and unproductive animals, bees, and birds. Studies of changes in the species composition, and bioecological patterns of the development cycle of parasites under shifting boundaries of their ranges were also done. For the study, the animals were divided into three groups of 10 animals each. Standard clinical and hematological research methods were used during the study. Blood sampling included three stages: before insecticide treatment, the intermediate interval of 15 days, and the final stage. Based on the results obtained, it was found that Komfortis and Foresto have 100% therapeutic efficacy at all stages of flea development and possess a long-lasting action duringa flea infestation. The morphological blood analysisshowed that the proposed medical agents have no toxic orsideeffects.

Flea infestation: a snapshot on the common products and the reasons for treatment failure

The reasons why flea infestations remain frequent in companion animals despite the considerable number of anti-flea products is of interest. Successful flea control relies mainly on the use of effective anti-flea products and pet owners adhering to treatment recommendations. When flea infestations continue to persist despite the application of a potent anti-flea product, lack of efficacy may be suspected. In this article, the basics of flea biology and impact of flea infestation on the host are summarised. In addition, the factors that can result in ineffective treatment and control of flea infestation are discussed. Better understanding of the possible reasons can help to inform clinical practice and avoid treatment failures.

Risk factors associated with Ctenocephalides felis flea infestation of peri-urban goats: a neglected parasite in an under-appreciated host

Goats are critical in mixed smallholder agricultural systems in lower and middle-income countries, while fleas are important human and animal health concerns around the world. Convenience sampling was used to describe and consider risk factors for flea infestations of peri-urban goats, with the aim of informing the iterative development of animal husbandry and management based control strategies. Seven hundred and ninety-two goats were examined in 228 households across 10 peri-urban communities surrounding Blantyre in southern Malawi. The prevalence of Ctenocephalides felis fleas was 18.3, 37.1 and 100% at the levels of individual goats, households and communities, respectively, highlighting a neglected human and animal health concern. Constant introduction of new livestock coupled to a lack of biosecurity within communities, the ubiquitous presence of dog and cat hosts for C. felis, the frequency and thoroughness of cleaning overnight goat accommodation, and goat age less than 12 months old were identified as risk factors for flea infestation. This focal cross-sectional study highlights the significance of fleas in peri-urban communities and uncovers trends and commonalities that are needed to inform sustainable disease management. The majority of the peri-urban goat keepers were female, had resided in the same community throughout their whole life and had primary level education. Advice on the planned management of fleas in livestock needs to be tailored towards this demographic group. This approach affords an opportunity to promote public health measures to address household flea infestations and zoonotic disease spread.

Describing fine spatiotemporal dynamics of rat fleas in an insular ecosystem enlightens abiotic drivers of murine typhus incidence in humans

Murine typhus is a flea-borne zoonotic disease that has been recently reported on Reunion Island, an oceanic volcanic island located in the Indian Ocean. Five years of survey implemented by the regional public health services have highlighted a strong temporal and spatial structure of the disease in humans, with cases mainly reported during the humid season and restricted to the dry southern and western portions of the island. We explored the environmental component of this zoonosis in an attempt to decipher the drivers of disease transmission. To do so, we used data from a previously published study (599 small mammals and 175 Xenopsylla fleas from 29 sampling sites) in order to model the spatial distribution of rat fleas throughout the island. In addition, we carried out a longitudinal sampling of rats and their ectoparasites over a 12 months period in six study sites (564 rats and 496 Xenopsylla fleas) in order to model the temporal dynamics of flea infestation of rats. Generalized Linear Models and Support Vector Machine classifiers were developed to model the Xenopsylla Genus Flea Index (GFI) from climatic and environmental variables. Results showed that the spatial distribution and the temporal dynamics of fleas, estimated through the GFI variations, are both strongly controlled by abiotic factors: rainfall, temperature and land cover. The models allowed linking flea abundance trends with murine typhus incidence rates. Flea infestation in rats peaked at the end of the dry season, corresponding to hot and dry conditions, before dropping sharply. This peak of maximal flea abundance preceded the annual peak of human murine typhus cases by a few weeks. Altogether, presented data raise novel questions regarding the ecology of rat fleas while developed models contribute to the design of control measures adapted to each micro region of the island with the aim of lowering the incidence of flea-borne diseases.

Ectoparasitoses of domestic and productive animals and ways to defend

The materials of the presented research cover the issues of entomoses prevalence in domestic and productive animals, determining the effectiveness of synthetic pyrethroids insecticides to ectoparasites of the following species: swine lice, canine and feline flea; malophages (chewing lice of chickens, cattle, horses), chicken bedbugs, sheep bloodsuckers. Studies have shown that the most common entomoses among productive and domestic animals are flea infestation, lice and malophagosis, and the prevalence of linognatosis and trichodectosis agents is relatively low. To determine the therapeutic efficacy of synthetic pyrethroids – "Extrazol-M" and "Neostomazan", animals with symptoms of ectoparasitic diseases were used. It was found that insecticides "Extrazol-M" and "Neostomazan" are effective against ectoparasites. The therapeutic efficacy of "Extrazol-M" is 100% after one treatment – for flea infestation and two – for sifunculatosis and malophagoses. High efficiency of animals’ with entomoses treatment with insecticide "Extrazol-M" is achieved by a combination of 3 synthetic pyrethroids. The drug has an advantage due to its cheapness and long-term storage. "Neostomazan" has sufficient therapeutic efficacy also, but has a short repellent period after treatment of animals. Thus, their owners must carefully follow the recommendations for the working solution concentration and drying of animal fur to minimize the risk of entering the animal. The active substances of the tested drugs of the pyrethroid series provide a repellent effect, scaring away parasites and preventing their bite. because in some animals prone to allergic reactions, even a single bite of ectoparasites is enough to start the process of allergic dermatitis. Synthetic pyrethroid drugs are more effective in the treatment of dermatological patients diagnosed with flea allergodermatitis or allergic reactions due to parasitism of sucking and chewing lice and, in contrast to systemic insecticides, act on ectoparasites by contact. Key words: insecticides, "Extrazol-M", "Neostomazan", synthetic pyrethroids, ectoparasites, fleas, lice, malophages, bedbugs.

Age dynamics of infestation of dogs Ctenocephalides spp.

The ectoparasites Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis are distributed worldwide and are the most common species of fleas that parasitize domestic carnivores. As active vectors of infectious and invasive diseases, fleas of the genus Ctenocephalides are of great epidemiological importance. Intensive growth of the number of dogs, violation of sanitary and hygienic conditions of their keeping, especially in large cities, as well as global warming significantly affect the epizootic situation regarding ctenocephalidosis. The aim of the work was to study the features of age susceptibility of domestic dogs in the city of Poltava (Ukraine) to Ctenocephalides spp. Indicators of infestation of animals with the causative agent of ctenocephalidosis depending on their age and housing conditions were determined. Studies have shown that dogs of any age are prone to flea infestation. Ctenocephalidosis is diagnosed in animals of all ages. At the same time, the age dynamics of defeat of dogs by parasitic insects under different conditions of their keeping differed significantly. The average extensity and intensity of the invasion was lower in animals kept in apartments (26.47 %, 10.82 specimens/head) compared to animals kept in the private sector (76.21 %, 22.71 specimens/head). The highest rates of flea infestation of the genus Ctenocephalides were found in dogs aged one to six years (37.10–45.45 %; 10.45–15.91 specimens/head) – for housing, as well as in young animals up to 12 month of age (84.03–90.36 %; 22.78–32.56 specimens/head) – for aviary maintenance. Less infested were dogs under 6 months of age (11.26 %; 5.43 specimens/head) and older 6-year-olds (16.28 %; 8.54 specimens/head) – for housing, as well as dogs aged one to six years (53.54–75.38 %; 11.63–20.24 specimens/head) – for aviary keeping. The results obtained regarding the age dynamics of infestation of domestic dogs with fleas of the genus Ctenocephalides can be taken into account when carrying out measures to control and prevent ctenocephalidosis in dogs under different conditions of their content.

Patterns of Flea Infestation in Rodents and Insectivores From Intensified Agro-ecosystems, Nw Spain

Background: Fleas frequently infest small mammals and play important vectoring roles in the epidemiology of (re)emerging zoonotic disease. Rodent outbreaks in intensified agroecosystems of NW Spain have been recently linked to periodic zoonotic disease spillover to local human populations. Obtaining qualitative and quantitative information about the composition and structure of the whole flea and small mammal host coexisting communities is paramount to understand disease transmission cycles and to dilucidate the disease-vectoring role of flea species. Methods: Here we report on a large spatial (6 locations) and temporal (6 years with 3 samplings/year) survey conducted in intensively farmed landscapes in NW Spain, aiming to: (i) characterise the flea community parasitizing the small mammal host guild (Microtus arvalis, Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus spretus, Crocidura russula) in terms of flea-host specificity, abundance, prevalence, intensity and aggregation; (ii) evaluate patterns of co-infection by different flea species in hosts; and (iii) study the variation of flea abundance according to season and host sex. Results: Three flea species dominated the system (99.4%): Ctenophthalmus apertus, Leptopsylla taschenbergi and Nosopsyllus fasciatus. Results showed a high aggregation pattern of fleas in all hosts. C. apertus and N. fasciatus were shared by all host species in the guild, but L. taschenbergi mainly parasitized mice (M. spretus, A. sylvaticus). We found significant male-bias infestation patterns in mice, and significant seasonal variations in flea abundances for all rodent hosts (M. arvalis, M. spretus, A, sylvaticus). Simultaneous infections by 2 or 3 flea species were found in 36.8% of all hosts, and N. fasciatus was the most common flea co-infecting hosts. Conclusions: Our study shows that flea infestation patterns differ among hosts and seasons, influencing their potential vectoring role of diseases. Further investigation should be carried out on abundant and polyphagous fleas (e.g. N. fasciatus), since they may have higher competence to circulate zoonoses in natural systems.