Description

Fleas ares insects (also called hexapods because they all have 6 legs, contrary to Arachnids which have 8 or more: ticks, spiders, scorpios, centipedes ...)
It exists at least 1 800 known species of fleas, parasiting the whole alive world.

For us and ours compagnons, the most abundants are :

• Ctenocephalides canis: Litterally "the comb shaped head, of dogs"
  Contrarily to its name shows, it attacks as well cats, humans, chickens, calf and some other animals.
  It is between 1,5 and 4 mm.
• Ctenocephalides felis: Litterally "the comb shaped head, of cats"
  It is a bit smaller than the previous one and have the same powers.
  Both fleas transmit Bartonellosis ( Bartonella henselae , the "Cat Scratch Disease") and the tenia to cats, dogs, and childrens.
  They are worldwide. They dislike extreme cold and feel at home in a wet tropical climate.
• Pulex irritans: Litterally "the irritating flea"
  Also called "Human flea", but it attacks also dogs, cats, pigs, rats, badgers (there are no here).
  It is between 1,5 and 4 mm also.
  It was a vector of Black Death epidemics (Yersinia pestis) and it still can be.
• Spilopsyllus cuniculi : Litterally "the rabbit spotted flea"
  It is also worldwide spread. Mainly found on rabbits, it may pass to dogs and cats.
  It is about 1 mm. It is the vector of the Myxomatosis virus.
• Echidnophaga gallinacea: Litterally "the viper eater, of hen"
  Mainly tropical. Attacks hen houses, rodents, rabbits, dogs, felids, sometimes horses and man.
  It is also between 1,5 and 4 mm.

Biology

This animal is not only famous by its jumps which may reach 400 times its size:
All fleas are hematophages (= blood-eaters).
In case of massive infestation they may induce death.
 
The cycle of their life is made of 4 stages:

• Eggs are emmited by adults and fall where they were hatched: They are found in places where hosts are sleeping.
• Larvas look like worms and feed on dried blood, excrements. The next step occurs after 6-7 months.
• Pupas (= nymphs), The sub-adult stage : The flea weave a cocoon and remains in between 10 days to 1 year, depending on external conditions. What which awake it are heat, carbonic gaz and movement.
• Adults live between 1 month to 1 year.

The full cycle may be done within 3 weeks up to two years, depending on the external conditions.

Diseases

There are a lot:

• First are the bites, "It is itchy!":
   
  By the holes done in the skin, numerous microbes may come in and infect, at least locally, reinforcing the itchings.
  Reproduced many times, bites may induce papular dermatitis (numerous little pimples) and allergies.
• Then, there is the removed blood:
  Without treatment an anemia (lack of red cells inducing a general weakness) may occur and may become fatal.
• After, there is all the diseases for which flea is a vector, for man as for other animals:
   
  • The most serious is the Bubonic Plague, rare now but which have not yet vanished from Earth ;
  • Bartonellosis ( Bartonella henselae ) or Cat Scratch Disease (which don't pass only by cats) ;
  • Parasitic Worms, as the Tenia (Dipiltidium sp.), pass through fleas ;
  • Viruses, of which Leporipoxvirus or Myxomatosis.
  • etc...

Treatments

In fleas, like in ticks,
it is useless to treat an animal without treating also all the others,
plus the habitat in which they dwell.

There are numerous available treatments against fleas, some are inefficient because fleas have become resistant.
Their effectiveness duration vary from 1 to 3 months according to the brand, whichever the conditionning is:

It is quite always the same molecules which are used everywhere. Among those some are true poisons up to that if doses provided for dogs are used on cats they die out. An over-dosage on a dog may kill him too. The anti-fleas product that you give to your Pet would have to be approved by a veterinarian. Some induce allergies sometimes.

Packagings:

• Collars:
  The most used form. Watch about cats: The collar must include a rubber band, otherwise there is a risk to kill him (see Caring my cat).
• Powders:
  They have the advantage to be scattered anywhere, on the animal as on furnitures and beddings.
  The inconvenience is that it don't remain for long on animals.
• Sprays:
  They have the advantage to be easily sprayed and, so, to save product, but they frighten cats.
• Liquids:
  This is a quite recent packaging style.
  It is a kind of blister containing a product in little quantity which is opened and put on the back of the animal's neck (to prevent any lick : It is toxic).
  The product is given to have a bigger long-lasting action than the others.

The "habitat" includes EVERTHING: The kennel, the house, the car, the linen, the furnitures, even if the dog never comes into the house.

The basic tool in this struggle is the wash-machine. All which can't go in must be soaked with powed at least, and, better must be either boiled or burnt.

Take also care about all the "fleas shelters" that you may have in your neighbourhood: Wreck car, unused house part, sheds, warehouses, attics, store-houses, etc.

In case of massive infestation of a place or a vehicle, the call of a professionnal is necessary.

An excellent synthesis on fleas and ticks is available,
in English only, (and I haven't the courage to translate) under the title
 
Fleas and Ticks
 
on the 'k9web.com' site (read 'canine web dot com').