Skip to main content
Log in

Infestation of ctenocephalides felis orientis and ctenocephalides felis felis in human- a case report

  • Original Research Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The fleas are one of those major belligerent insect pests, which transmit various bacterial, viral and rickettsial diseases not only to humans but to animals also. Fleas are liable for causing dermatitis in domestic as well as companion animals. The biting caused by any flea results in Flea Allergy Dermatitis, which develops due to the release of a specific substance in flea saliva after the piercing of the host skin with their specialized mouthparts. In the present study, a family from staff quarters of Division of Veterinary Parasitology, Bareilly reported severe itching in the different body parts along with the several multiple tiny bite marks and excoriated papules or vesicles. After collecting the fleas in 70% alcohol, samples were processed for the detailed morphological examination. The Fleas were diagnosed as Ctenocephalides. felis orientis and Ctenocephalides felis felis. Topical corticosteroids are frequently used as treatment; however, intralesional or systemic administration is mandatory in cases of extreme reactions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alsaad KO, Ghazarian D (2005) My approach to superficial inflammatory dermatoses. J Clin Pathol 58(12):1233–1241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Araujo FR, Silver MP, Lopes AA, Riberio OC, Pires PP, Carvalho CME, Baluena CB, Villas AA, Ramos JKM (1998) Severe flea infestation of dairy calves in Brazil. Vet Parasitol 80:83–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ash MM, Phillips CM (2016) Parasitic diseases with cutaneous manifestations. N C Med J 77(5):350–354

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ashwini M, Puttalakshmamma G, Mamatha G, Chandranaik B, Thimmareddy P, Placid E, Jalali SK, Venkatshan T (2017) Studies on morphology and molecular characterization of oriental cat flea infesting small ruminants by barcoding. J Ent Zool Stud 5(4):301–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett S, Luempert L, Schuele G, Quezada A, Strehlau G, Doherty P (2008) Efficacy of pyriprole topical solution against the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, on dogs. Vet Ther 9(1):4–14

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beck W, Stickel M (2008) Interhost migration behaviour of Ctenocephalides felis on cats and in their resting sites. Wien Klin Wochenschr 120(19–20):40–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bitam I, Dittmar K, Parola P, Whiting MF, Raoult D (2010) Fleas and flea-borne diseases. Int J Infect Dis 14(8):667–676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blagburn BL, Dryden MW (2009) Biology, treatment, and control of flea and tick infestations. Vet Clin: Small Ani Prac 39(6):1173–1200

    Google Scholar 

  • Changbunjong T, Buddhirongawatr R, Suwanpakdee S, Siengsanan J, Yongyuttawichai P, Cheewajorn K, Jangjaras J, Sangloung C, Ratanakorn P (2009) A survey of ectoparasitic arthropods on domestic animals in Tak Province, Thailand. SE Asian J Trop Med 40(3):435

    Google Scholar 

  • Chin HC, Ahmad NW, Lim LH, Jeffery J, Hadi AA, Othman H, Omar B (2010) Infestation with the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) among students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. SE Asian J Trop Med 41(6):1331–1334

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruz-Vazquez C, Gamez EC, Fernandez MP, Parra MR (2001) Seasonal occurrence of Ctenocephalides felis felis and Ctenocephalides canis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) infesting dogs and cats in an urban area in Cuernavaca, Mexico. J Med Entomol 38(1):111–113

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dipeolu OO, Ayoade GO (1982) The epizootiology of infestation of sheep with Ctenocephalides canis in a livestock farm in Nigeria. Bull An Health Prod Afr 30:31–34

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dryden MW, Gaafar SM (1991) Blood consumption by the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). J Med Entomol 28(3):394–400

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dryden MW, Rust MK (1994) The cat flea: biology, ecology and control. Vet Parasitol 52(1-2):1–19

  • Dryden M, Payne P, Smith V (2007) Efficacy of selamectin and fipronil-(S)-methoprene spot-on formulations applied to cats against adult cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis), flea eggs, and adult flea emergence. Vet Ther 8(4):255–262

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fagbemi BO (1982) Effect of Ctenocephalides felis strongylus infestations on the performance of west African dwarf sheep and goats. Vet Q 4:92–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goddard J, Goddard B (2018) Infectious diseases and arthropods. Humana Press

  • González A, Ddel Castro C, González S (2004) Ectoparasitic species from Canis familiaris (Linné) in Buenos aires province, Argentina. Vet Parasitol 120(1–2):123–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gracia MJ, Calvete C, Estrada R, Castillo JA, Peribanez MA, Lucientes J (2008) Fleas parasitizing domestic dogs in Spain. Vet Parasitol 151(2–4):312–319

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haag-Wackernagel D, Spiewak RW (2004) Human infestation by pigeon fleas (Ceratophyllus columbae) from feral pigeons

  • Harman DW, Halliwell RE, Greiner EC (1987) Flea species from dogs and cats in north-Central Florida. Vet Parasitol 23(1–2):135–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hii SF, Lawrence AL, Cuttell L, Tynas R, Rani PAMA, Slapeta J and Traub, RJ (2015) Evidence for a specific host-endosymbiont relationship between ‘Rickettsia sp. genotype RF2125’ and Ctenocephalides felis orientis infesting dogs in India. Parasit Vectors 8(1):169.

  • Hunter KW, Campbell AR, Sayles PC (1979) Human infestation by cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), from suburban raccoon. J Med Entomol 16:547–547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jain PC (1993) Ctenocephalides canis infestation in sheep treated with ivermectin. J Bombay Vet Coll 4:67–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang J, Maina AN, Knobel DL, Cleaveland S, Laudisoit A, Wamburu K, Ogola E, Parola P, Breiman RF, Njenga MK and Richards AL (2013) Molecular detection of Rickettsia felis and Candidatus Rickettsia asemboensis in fleas from human habitats, Asembo, Kenya. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 13(8):550–558

  • Joseph SA (1981) Studies on the bionomics of Ctenocephalides felis orientis (Jordan) 1925. Cheiron 10:275–280

  • Kaal JF, Baker K, Torgerson PR (2006) Epidemiology of flea infestation of ruminants in Libya. Vet Parasitol 141(3–4):313–318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koutinas AF, Papazahariadou MG, Rallis TS, Tzivara NH, Himonas CA (1995) Flea species from dogs and cats in northern Greece: environmental and clinical implications. Vet Parasitol 58(1–2):109–115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kusiluka LJM, Kambarage DM, Mathewman RW, Daborn CJ, Harrison LJS (1995) Prevalence of ectoparasites of goats in Tanzania. J Appl An Res 7(1):69–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence AL, Brown GK, Peters B, Spielman DS, Morin-Adeline V, Šlapeta J (2014) High phylogenetic diversity of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) at two mitochondrial DNA markers. Med Vet Entomol 28(3):330–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mc Crindle CME, Green ED, Bryson NR (1999) A primary animal health care approach to treatment and control of flea (Ctenocephalides felis) infestation in indigenous goats kept on communal grazing. J S Afr Vet Assoc 70:21–24

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Milne LJ, Milne MJ (1980) The Audubon society field guide to north American insects and spiders. Knopf: distributed by Random House

  • Moonga, LC, Hayashida K, Nakao R, Lisulo M, Kaneko C, Nakamura I, Eshita Y, Mweene AS, Namangala B, Sugimoto C. and Yamagishi J, (2019) Molecular detection of Rickettsia felis in dogs, rodents and cat fleas in Zambia. Parasit vectors 12(1):168

  • Muraleedharan K, Sahadev A (2012) Possibility of harnessing the ectoparasiticidal potential of an ayurvedic liniment in young goats. Curr Sci 103(11)

  • Noor Hayati MI, Jeffery J, Anisah N, Yusof S (2002) Maculopapular rashes caused by cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) bites in a university student. Trop Biomed 19:131–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts LS, Janovy J (2006) Foundations of parasitology, 7th edn. McGraw Hill Co., Dubuque, pp 587–597

    Google Scholar 

  • Shakya M, Jayraw AK, Singh M, Agrawal V (2018) Occurrence of Ctenocephalides orientis (Jordan 1925 Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in goats and dogs from Mhow. Pradesh, Madhya

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor MA, Coop RL, Wall RL (2007) Veterinary Parasitology. 3rd Ed. Blackwell. 715–725

  • Thomas PD, Cutter J, Joynson DH (2000) An outbreak of human flea infestation in a hospital. J Hospital Infect 45:330–335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Urquhart GM, Armour JL, Dunn AM, Jennings FW (1996) Veterinary parasitology, 2nd edn. Blackwell, London, pp 89–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall R, Shaw SE, Penaliggon J (1997) The prevalence of flea species on cats and dogs in Ireland. Med Vet Entomol 11(4):404–406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wells K, Beaucournu JC, Durden LA, Petney TN, Lakim MB, O’Hara RB (2012) Ectoparasite infestation patterns of domestic dogs in suburban and rural areas in Borneo. Parasitol Res 111(2):909–919

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson J (2006) Infection control in clinical practice. Elsevier Health Sciences

  • Yeruham I, Rosen S, Hadani A (1989) Mortality in calves, lambs and kids caused by severe infestation with the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835) in Israel. Vet Parasitol 30(4):351–356

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeruham I, Rosen S, Braverman Y (1996) Ctenocephalides felis flea infestation in horses. Vet Parasitol 62(3–4):341–343

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeruham I, Rosen S, Perl S (1997) An apparent flea-allergy dermatitis in kids and limbs. J Vet Med Ser A 44:391–397

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeruham I, Rosen S, Hadani A, Braverman Y (1999) Arthropod parasites of Nubian ibexes (Capra ibex nubiana) and gazelles (Gazella gazella) in Israel. Vet Parasitol 83:167–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was not funded by any department. It was conducted by using the facilities available in Divison of Parasitology, ICAR-IVRI, UP Bareilly.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ashutosh Fular.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.”

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fular, A., Geeta, Nagar, G. et al. Infestation of ctenocephalides felis orientis and ctenocephalides felis felis in human- a case report. Int J Trop Insect Sci 40, 651–656 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-020-00116-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-020-00116-9

Keywords

Navigation