Survey of flea infestation in cats in Spain

Fleas are a common cause of feline skin disorders as well as vectors of zoonotic diseases. This study evaluated the flea species infesting domestic cats in Spain and assessed factors influencing their distribution. Fleas from 217 cats from 57 localities in Spain were identified and associations between abundance, and host‐dependent, host habitat and environmental factors were examined. Variations in infracommunity and component community structure were also explored. Three species were present, of which Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) was the most abundant (98.4%), followed by Ctenocephalides canis (Curtis) (1.1%) and Pulex irritans (L.) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) (0.5%). Overall abundance and abundances of both C. felis and C. canis were higher on farms than in apartments, but overall flea abundance and abundances of both C. felis and C. canis were lower in rural than urban environments. Overall abundance and C. felis abundance were lower during the warmest months, and mean annual rainfall was positively correlated with overall, C. felis and C. canis abundances. No relationship between the number of species per cat and any host, habitat or physiographical variable was found. Species richness was not correlated with mean annual temperature or rainfall. Flea abundance was mainly associated with host habitat and environmental factors.     

Cat flea infestation in a hospital: a case report

Cat flea bite in humans results in extremely pruritic skin lesions. It has been reported to occur among those living in domiciliary accommodation. However, nosocomial infestation with cat flea has not been reported. We hereby report a case of nosocomial infestation of cat flea in a hospital facility. Identification of the parasite, its appropriate eradication, and adequate medical management of the patients resulted in a satisfactory outcome.     

Accumulation and persistence of flea larvicidal activity in the immediate environment of cats treated with imidacloprid

To investigate the persistence of flea larvicidal activity in the immediate environment of cats treated with imidacloprid, eggs of the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis felis Bouché (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), from untreated donor cats, were incubated on samples of fleece blanket taken from the floor of cages used by treated or untreated cats for a total of 10 or 20 6-h periods over 2-4 weeks, respectively. Sufficient imidacloprid accumulated during these periods to reduce the emergence of adult fleas by 94.7-97.6% when the blankets were tested after 18 weeks' storage at room temperature. A typical laundry procedure (washing with detergent at 50 degrees C and low temperature tumble drying) removed this biological activity. Unwashed control blankets did not support the flea life-cycle as effectively as washed blankets or a sand substrate.     

Identification of mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance in the para-type sodium channel of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis

Knockdown resistance (kdr) to pyrethroid insecticides is caused by point mutations in the pyrethroid target site, the para-type sodium channel of nerve membranes. This most commonly involves alterations within the domain II (S4–S6) region of the channel protein where five different mutation sites have been identified across a range of insect species. To investigate the incidence of this mechanism in cat fleas, we have cloned and sequenced the IIS4–IIS6 region of the para sodium channel gene from seven laboratory flea strains. Analysis of these sequences revealed two amino acid replacements at residues previously implicated in pyrethroid resistance. One is the ‘common’ kdr mutation, a leucine to phenylalanine substitution (equivalent to L1014F of housefly) reported previously in several other insects. The other is a threonine to valine substitution (equivalent to T929V) and is a novel variant of the T929I mutation first identified in diamondback moth. The L1014F mutation was found at varying frequency in all of the laboratory flea strains, whereas the T929V mutation was found only in the highly resistant Cottontail strain. We have developed rapid PCR-based diagnostic assays for the detection of these mutations in individual cat fleas and used them to show that both L1014F and T929V are common in UK and US flea populations. This survey revealed a significant number of fleas that carry only the V929 allele indicating that co-expression with the F1014 allele is not necessary for flea viability.     

Transmission Efficiency of Two Flea Species (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oropsylla tuberculata cynomuris</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oropsylla hirsuta</Emphasis>) Involved in Plague Epizootics among Prairie Dogs

Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is an exotic disease in North America circulating predominantly in wild populations of rodents and their fleas. Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) are highly susceptible to infection, often experiencing mortality of nearly all individuals in a town as a result of plague. The fleas of black-tailed prairie dogs are Oropsylla tuberculata cynomuris and Oropsylla hirsuta. We tested the efficiency of O. tuberculata cynomuris to transmit Y. pestis daily from 24 to 96 h postinfection and compared it to previously collected data for O. hirsuta. We found that O. tuberculata cynomuris has over threefold greater transmission efficiency (0.18 infected fleas transmit Y. pestis at 24 h postinfection) than O. hirsuta (0.05 fleas transmit). Using a simple model of flea-borne transmission, we combine these laboratory measurements with field data on monthly flea loads to compare the seasonal vectorial capacity of these two flea species. Coinciding with seasonal patterns of flea abundance, we find a peak in potential for flea-borne transmission in March, during high O. tuberculata cynomuris abundance, and in September–October when O. hirsuta is common. Our findings may be useful in determining the timing of insecticidal dusting to slow plague transmission in black-tailed prairie dogs.     

Prevalence of staphylococcal enterotoxins in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates from dogs with pyoderma and healthy dogs

To investigate the role of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) produced by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in the pathogenesis of pyoderma, isolates from dogs with pyoderma and healthy dogs were analyzed. According to reverse passive latex agglutination, 14/184 isolates (7.6%) from dogs with pyoderma and 9/87 (10.3%) from healthy dogs produced SEs (SEA, SEC or SED). According to multiplex PCR, 99 isolates (53.7%) from dogs with pyoderma and 97 (90.8%) from healthy dogs possessed one or more se genes. There was no significant difference regarding ses between dogs with pyoderma and healthy dogs. Therefore, SEs may not be a direct virulence factor in pyoderma.     

DNA fingerprints of dogs and cats

Human minisatellite probes consisting of tandem repeats of the 'core' sequence, a putative recombination signal in human DNA, cross-hybridize to multiple polymorphic fragments in dog and cat DNA to produce individual-specific DNA 'fingerprints'. Pedigree analysis shows that most of the DNA fragments detected in an individual are heterozygous, and that these fragments are derived from multiple dispersed autosomal loci. DNA fingerprints of cats and dogs should prove suitable for individual identification and for establishing family relationships. They are also suitable for rapid marker generation in large pedigrees and could be applied to linkage analysis in these animals.     

Comparative efficacy on dogs of a single topical treatment with fipronil/(S)-methoprene or weekly physiological hygiene shampoos against Ctenocephalides felis in a simulated flea-infested environment

Flea infestations of pets continue to persist due to the lack of knowledge of flea biology and ecology. It is not unusual that pet owners believe regular hygiene, such as shampooing their dogs can replace regular insecticidal treatment. The objective of this study was to compare in a flea simulated environment, modelling exposure similar to that found in a home, that the use of regular physiological shampoo does not control fleas adequately when compared to a long acting topical formulation. Three groups of six dogs were formed: one untreated control group, one group treated monthly with the topical formulation of fipronil/(S)-methoprene, and a third group treated weekly with a hygiene shampoo. All dogs were infested with adult unfed Ctenocephalides felis fleas (200±5) on Days -28 and -21. Each animal's sleeping box was fitted with a plastic cup mounted to the inside roof of the box. The sleeping bench of each animal was covered with a carpet to accommodate flea development. The dogs were maintained in their kennels throughout the study. In order to maintain the environmental flea challenge, C. felis pupae (100±5) were placed in the plastic cup in each animal's sleeping box on Days -14, -7, 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. The dogs were combed and fleas counted weekly on Days -1, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 38, 45, and 51. The fleas were placed immediately back on the dogs. On Day 60, fleas were counted and removed. Flea infestations in the untreated control group at each count averaged between 46.2 and 74.2 fleas throughout the study. The average number of fleas infesting dogs was significantly different (p<0.05) between the untreated and the two treatment groups and between the two treatment groups at all counts throughout the two months study (Days 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 38, 45, 51 and 60). The efficacy was never below 99.1% in the fipronil/(S)-methoprene group, and efficacy in the shampoo group was never above 79.2%. Weekly shampooing in treatment group 3 was intentionally delayed after Day 42, to evaluate wether missing a weekly bath would affect the flea population. The Day 48 data indicate that forgetting or delaying a single weekly shampooing resulted in a clear increase in flea numbers and a significant decrease in efficacy from 68.2% to 34.8%. The fipronil(S)/methoprene treatment allowed a continuous control as demonstrated by the high efficacy against fleas, and also the number of flea-free dogs on seven of the nine weekly assessments, in spite of what was essentially a continuous flea challenge model.     

Results of a European multicentric field efficacy study of fipronil-(S) methoprene combination on flea infestation of dogs and cats during 2009 summer

Despite the increasing number of ectoparasiticides for pets and their use, flea infestations of cats and dogs are still widespread in Europe. It is therefore important to assess the maintenance of efficacy of the ectoparasiticides for cats and dogs. The present studies aimed to evaluate the efficacy of monthly treatments using a fipronil/(S)-methoprene combination spot-on (Frontline Combo) on dogs and cats from private veterinary clinics located in seven European countries. The survey was conducted for three months during the flea season 2009. A total of 233 dogs and 180 cats were included. Each animal was treated at Days 0 (Day 0), 30 (D30) and 60 (D60) at the vet clinics. For each animal, at least three flea counts were performed at D0, D30 and/or D60 and/or day 90 (Day 90) in order to evaluate the prevalence of flea infestation and the efficacy of control. At the beginning of the study the prevalence of infested animals was 41.63% (97/233) in dogs and 47.22% (85/180) in cats. At D90, the number of dogs remaining infested fell to 8/211 therefore 91.75% became flea-free. The number of infested cats fell from 85 to 9/173 at D90 therefore 89.41% were cured. All animals still infested at Day 90 were living under epidemiological conditions that favour heavy flea burdens. These results are similar or better to previous studies, indicating the continuous high level of efficacy for fipronil 10 years after launch.     

Detection of Norovirus and Sapovirus from diarrheic dogs and cats in Japan

Norovirus (NoV) and sapovirus (SaV) are important causes of human diarrhea. In this study, between 2007 and 2014 fecal samples were collected from 97 dogs and 83 cats with diarrhea and examined to determine the prevalence of NoV and SaV infections in Japan. To detect caliciviruses, approximately 300 bases targeting the polymerase gene were amplified using RT‐PCR and subjected to phylogenetic and homology analyses. Specific PCR products were obtained from four canine and nine feline samples: two canine and one feline isolate were classified as NoV, two canine isolates as SaV and the remaining eight feline isolates as vesivirus (VeV). The three NoV isolates were classified into the same clade as that of known canine and feline NoVs; their homologies (75.9–92.3%) were higher than those with human genogroup IV (GIV) NoVs (59.1–65.9%). The homology of the feline NoV isolate with previously reported feline NoV isolates was particularly high (91.7–92.3%). Regarding SaV, the two canine isolates were classified into the same clade as known canine SaVs and their homologies (72.5–86.5%) were higher than those with other mammal SaVs (20.7–58.0%). The eight feline VeV isolates were assumed to be feline calicivirus. The present study is the first report of the presence of NoV‐ and SaV‐infected dogs and cats in Japan. The findings suggest there are species‐specific circulations of NoV and SaV among dogs and cats, in Japan.     

Reconciling actual and perceived rates of predation by domestic cats

The predation of wildlife by domestic cats (Felis catus) is a complex problem: Cats are popular companion animals in modern society but are also acknowledged predators of birds, herpetofauna, invertebrates, and small mammals. A comprehensive understanding of this conservation issue demands an understanding of both the ecological consequence of owning a domestic cat and the attitudes of cat owners. Here, we determine whether cat owners are aware of the predatory behavior of their cats, using data collected from 86 cats in two UK villages. We examine whether the amount of prey their cat returns influences the attitudes of 45 cat owners toward the broader issue of domestic cat predation. We also contribute to the wider understanding of physiological, spatial, and behavioral drivers of prey returns among cats. We find an association between actual prey returns and owner predictions at the coarse scale of predatory/nonpredatory behavior, but no correlation between the observed and predicted prey-return rates among predatory cats. Cat owners generally disagreed with the statement that cats are harmful to wildlife, and disfavored all mitigation options apart from neutering. These attitudes were uncorrelated with the predatory behavior of their cats. Cat owners failed to perceive the magnitude of their cats’ impacts on wildlife and were not influenced by ecological information. Management options for the mitigation of cat predation appear unlikely to work if they focus on “predation awareness” campaigns or restrictions of cat freedom.     

Diet of free-ranging cats and dogs in a suburban and rural environment, south-eastern Brazil

In spite of the worldwide occurrence of domestic cats and dogs, and their close relationship with humans, the number of published papers on free-ranging cats Felis catus and dogs Canis familiaris , is small. The diet of both species was estimated in a suburban and rural environment in July 2002 and January 2003. Visual observations and scat collection of both species were accomplished along a 10 km transect line in the Campus 'Luiz de Queiroz', University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, south-eastern Brazil. The diet of both species was determined by analysis of sterilized, washed, dried and sorted scats. Estimated abundances of free-ranging cats and dogs in the sampled area were 81 (±4.32) and 42 (±2.96), respectively. Cats and dogs were more abundant in the suburban than in the rural environment ( t =3.78, P <0.001, N =55; t =8.38, P <0.001, N =55, respectively) and cats were more abundant than dogs in the suburban environment ( t =6.76, P <0.001, N =55), even though there was no significant difference between the abundance of both species in the rural environment ( t =0.82, P =0.46, N =55). Invertebrates were the most commonly consumed item by both species, followed by mammals (cats: 63.24 and 20.51%; dogs: 57.05 and 25.15%, respectively). Niche breadth was 0.4892 for cats and 0.4463 for dogs. Niche overlap was almost complete (0.97108). The consumption of mammals was estimated to be between 16.76 and 25.42 kg  individual⁻¹year⁻¹ for dogs and between 2.01 and 2.9 kg individual⁻¹year⁻¹ for cats. These data might be useful to establish a management program to minimize the predation pressure of free-ranging cats and dogs on wildlife.     

Prevalence, distribution and risk associated with tick infestation of dogs in Great Britain

Current concerns over the potential impacts of climate change and the increased movement between countries of people and companion animals on the distribution of ectoparasites, highlight the need for accurate understanding of existing prevalence patterns. Without these future changes will not be detected. Here, the distribution and prevalence of tick infestations of domestic dogs in Great Britain were examined. A total of 173 veterinary practices were recruited to monitor tick attachment to dogs in their local areas between March and October 2009. Practices selected five dogs at random each week from those brought to the surgery and undertook a thorough, standardized examination for ticks. Each veterinary practice participated for 3 months before being replaced. Any ticks identified were collected and a sample sent to the investigators for identification, along with a clinical history of the dog. A total of 3534 dogs were examined; 810 dogs were found to be carrying at least one tick. Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus) (Acari: Ixodidae) was identified in 72.1% of cases, Ixodes hexagonus Leach in 21.7% and Ixodes canisuga Johnston in 5.6% of cases. Five samples of Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius) (Acari: Ixodidae) were also found, adding to the growing evidence that an established population of D. reticulatus now exists in south-eastern England. Almost all the ticks found were adults. Overall, 19.2% of the veterinary practices reported no tick detections, 50% reported that ≥14.9% of the dogs seen were infested and 14.6% reported that >50% of the dogs inspected carried ticks. The estimated incidence of tick attachment was 0.013 per day in March (lowest) and 0.096 per day in June (highest). A number of risk factors affected the likelihood of tick attachment on dogs. Gundog, terrier and pastoral breed groups were more likely to carry ticks, as were non-neutered dogs. Dogs with shorter hair were less likely to have ticks, and dogs were most likely to carry a tick in June. This study is of value because, unusually, it presents the results of a randomized sample of dogs and gives a prevalence which is higher than those previously recorded in Great Britain.     

Glucosinolate responses of oilseed rape, mustard and kale to mechanical wounding and infestation by cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala)

Mechanical wounding of the petioles of six laboratory-grown rapeseed ( Brassica napus ) cultivars induced physiological changes in the plant, markedly affecting the levels of individual glucosinolates. Greatest increases were observed for the indole glucosinolates, glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin. Such changes were usually associated with large decreases in the levels of aliphatic glucosinolates. The total glucosinolate content of the wounded plant was thus a reflection of these two opposing trends and wounding produced a greater relative indole glucosinolate content in this total figure. Thus increasing wounding was associated with an increase in indole glucosinolates and a decrease in aliphatic compounds.
Infestation of field- and laboratory-grown rapeseed with cabbage stem flea beetle ( Psylliodes chrysocephala ) produced similar effects, which were observed in various parts of the plant. Differences in response between field- and laboratory-grown infested plants are attributed to the different physiological ages of the harvested material.
Laboratory-grown kale and mustards also showed wound-induced glucosinolate changes. The kale, cv. Fribor, produced elevated levels of both indoles and aliphatics after wounding. Total glucosinolate content in the mustards, which, unlike rape and kale, normally contain only traces of indole glucosinolates in the unstressed state, was increased following wounding. This was, however, not associated with elevated levels of indole glucosinolates, but with accumulation of aliphatic ( Brassica nigra, B. juncea ) and aromatic ( Sinapis alba ) glucosinolates. The significance of these findings is discussed.     

Isolation and characterization of 11 microsatellite loci from Oropsylla hirsuta, a vector of sylvatic plague

The flea (Oropsylla hirsuta) is an important vector of the plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis, in black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies. We developed 11 anonymous microsatellite primers for O. hirsuta using a subtractive hybridization procedure. All primers were polymorphic exhibiting 4-12 alleles.