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The Veterinary Record, April 14, 2007
Mencke 2001a, b). When the fleas did not fit the key, a refer-
ence text was consulted (Smit 1957). In cases where more
than five fleas were received from one animal, five were taken
at random from the bijou tube for identification.
Flea infestations and owners’ awareness
The practices were asked to examine every dog and every cat
that entered the practice during a week of five working days
in July 2005 for evidence of fleas and signs of skin disease
potentially consistent with flea allergy dermatitis (
FAD). In the
case of dogs, these signs included crusted papules and trau-
matic alopecia, particularly over the dorsal lumbar area; in
the case of cats, suggestive lesions included a papulocrustous
(miliary) dermatitis and/or symmetrical traumatic alopecia.
Each pet was examined visually for signs of fleas or flea dirt
by parting the coat, and it was combed thoroughly with a flea
comb for one minute, and the debris collected was checked
for signs of fleas or flea dirt. Veterinary surgeons examined
the skin of the pets for signs that could potentially be com-
patible with
FAD. The number of cats and dogs in each of the
pet’s homes was recorded. If the pet had signs of flea infesta-
tion, the owner was asked whether they were aware of the
fleas, and also whether they were aware of the implications
for their home. Each veterinary practice was provided with
forms on which to record the above information.
Statistical analyses
Chi-squared tests were used to compare the prevalence of
flea infestations between dogs and cats, between households
with and without cats, and between households with one, or
more than one animal. The chi-squared test was also used
to compare the frequency of skin lesions in dogs and cats.
The analyses were performed using the Unistat v3.0 statistical
software package, with P<0·05 accepted as significant.
RESULTS
Flea sampling and identification
Of the 31 practices recruited, 28 returned fleas to the Royal
Veterinary College for identification. The samples were
received between July 21, and September 16, 2005. In total,
485 fleas from cats and 344 fleas from dogs were examined.
Eighteen fleas collected from cats and eight fleas obtained
from dogs were unidentifiable, usually owing to damage to
the ctenidia or limbs. Of the 467 fleas identified from the
cats, 462 (98·93 per cent) were C felis, one (0·21 per cent)
FLEAS are small wingless insects of the order Siphonaptera
that parasitise many species of mammals and birds and have
the potential to cause irritation and allergic dermatitis. Many
flea species may parasitise human beings and some are known
to be carriers of zoonotic diseases; for example, Ctenocephalides
felis is a known vector for Bartonella species, the microbial
pathogen involved in cat scratch disease (Shaw and others
2004). Fleas may also transmit other pathogens such as haem-
oplasmas and rickettsiae (Shaw and others 2004).
There have been few studies of the prevalence of infesta-
tions of dogs and cats by different species of fleas in the
UK,
and most of them have been confined to relatively small areas
(Beresford-Jones 1981, Chesney 1995, Clark 1999). There is
also little information about pet owners’ awareness of these
infestations. The primary aim of this study was to find out
what species of fleas commonly infest dogs and cats currently
in the
UK; the second aim was to determine the prevalence of
the flea infestations and to investigate the pets owners’ aware-
ness of these infestations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study design
Thirty-one veterinary practices from across the
UK were
recruited (Fig 1). They were invited to examine dogs and cats
for evidence of flea infestations and dermatological lesions
potentially associated with them, to collect flea samples for
identification, and to assess the owners’ awareness of the
infestations.
Flea sampling and identification
The practices were asked to collect no more than five adult
fleas from each of 10 cats and 10 dogs. They were collected
with a flea comb, placed in 5 ml bijou tubes containing 2·5
ml of 70 per cent ethanol and posted to the Royal Veterinary
College for identification.
Each flea to be identified was placed on a glass slide and
immersed in a small amount of 70 per cent ethanol and a
cover slip was then applied. The fleas were examined by light
microscopy, using the x 4, x 10 and x 40 objectives, and identi-
fied according to the key described by Soulsby (1982). In cases
where the genal ctenidia and head shape of Ctenocephalides
species did not allow clear differentiation between C felis and
Ctenocephalides canis, the numbers of teeth on the tibia were
counted; C felis has four to five teeth on each tibia whereas
C canis has seven to eight teeth on each tibia (Kramer and
Survey of flea infestation in dogs and cats in
the United Kingdom during 2005
R. Bond, A. Riddle, L. Mottram, F. Beugnet, R. Stevenson
During 2005, 31 UK veterinary practices participated in a survey of flea infestation, during which 2653 dogs
and 1508 cats were examined for evidence of flea infestation and skin disease compatible with flea allergy
dermatitis (
FAD). The prevalence of flea infestation in the cats was 21·09 per cent, significantly (P<0·001)
higher than in the dogs (6·82 per cent). The prevalence of skin lesions compatible with
FAD in the cats (8·02
per cent) was also significantly (P<0·001) higher than in the dogs (3·32 per cent). Flea infestations were
more common in households with cats and with more than one pet. Of 467 fleas identified from the cats,
462 (98·93 per cent) were Ctenocephalides felis, one was Ctenocephalides canis, one was Archaeopsylla
erinacei, two were Pulex irritans, and one was Spilopsyllus cuniculi. Of 336 fleas identified from the dogs,
313 (93·15 per cent) were C felis, five were C Canis, 12 were A erinacei, five were P irritans, and one was
Ceratophyllus (Nosophyllus) fasciatus. Almost half of the owners of the dogs and cats were unaware of
their pet’s flea infestation. The overall prevalence of fleas and/or skin lesions that could potentially be
compatible with
FAD was 7·46 per cent in the dogs and 22·28 per cent in the cats.
Veterinary Record (2007)
160, 503-506
R. Bond, BVMS, PhD, DVD,
DipECVD, MRCVS,
A. Riddle, BSc,
L. Mottram,
BSc,
Department of Veterinary
Clinical Sciences, Royal
Veterinary College,
Hawkshead Lane, North
Mymms, Hatfield
AL9 7TA
F. Beugnet, DVM, MSc,
PhD, DipEVPC,
Merial SAS, 13c Avenue
Einstein, 69623
Villeurbanne, France
R. Stevenson, MA, VetMB,
MRCVS,
Merial Animal Health,
PO Box 327, Harlow, Essex
Correspondence to
Ms Stevenson
Papers & Articles
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The Veterinary Record, April 14, 2007
Papers & Articles
was C canis, two (0·43 per cent) were Pulex irritans, one was
Archaeopsylla erinacei, and one was Spilopsyllus cuniculi (Table
1). Of the 336 fleas identified from the dogs, 313 (93·15 per
cent) were C felis, five (1·49 per cent) were C canis, five were
P irritans, 12 (3·57 per cent) were A erinacei and one (0·30 per
cent) was Ceratophyllus (Nosophyllus) fasciatus (Table 1).
In one case, two flea species were identified from the same
cat; four C felis and one P irritans were identified. In two
cases, two flea species were identified from the same dog;
in one case, two C felis and one C fasciatus were identified,
and in the other, three C felis and one C canis were identified
(Table 2).
C felis was identified in submissions from all the prac-
tices (Table 2). C canis was present in submissions from four
practices in Scotland, North Yorkshire, Essex and Northern
Ireland. The hedgehog flea, A erinacei, was recovered by six
practices in all areas except London, Wales and Northern
Ireland. S cuniculi was found by one practice in Scotland and
C fasciatus by one practice in Suffolk. P irritans was recovered
by one London practice and by a practice in Oxfordshire.
Flea infestations and owners’ awareness
All of the 31 practices provided data relating to the examina-
tion of cats and dogs in the practice. Of the 2653 dogs that
were examined, 181 (6·82 per cent) were found to have evi-
dence of active flea infestations, that is, flea dirt or adult fleas,
and 88 dogs (3·32 per cent) were found to have skin lesions
that could have been compatible with
FAD; of the dogs with
these skin lesions, 71 had signs of an active flea infestation
when they were examined. In total, 198 dogs (7·46 per cent)
were found to have evidence of an active flea infestation and/
or skin lesions that could potentially be compatible with
FAD.
Of the 1508 cats that were examined, 318 (21·09 per cent)
had evidence of active flea infestations, and they were sig-
nificantly more frequently (P<0·001) infested with fleas than
the dogs; 121 of the cats (8·02 per cent) had skin lesions that
could potentially have been compatible with
FAD. The cats
had skin lesions suggestive of FAD significantly more fre-
quently (P<0·001) than the dogs. Of the cats with these skin
signs, 103 had obvious signs of an active flea infestation when
they were examined. In total, 336 of the cats (22·28 per cent)
had evidence of an active flea infestation and/or skin lesions
that could potentially have been compatible with
FAD.
Ninety-five of the 181 dogs (52·49 per cent) with signs
of an active flea infestation lived in a multipet household,
whereas 765 of the 2472 dogs (30·95 per cent) that did not
have signs of an active flea infestation lived in a multipet
household. Of the 95 dogs from multipet households that
had signs of an active flea infestation, 63 (66·32 per cent)
lived with a cat, whereas of the 765 dogs from multipet
households that did not have fleas, only 291 (38·04 per cent)
lived with a cat. The presence of a cat in a multipet house-
hold significantly increased (P<0·001) the risk of other pets
in the household having a flea infestation. One hundred and
eighty-six of the 318 cats (58·49 per cent) with signs of an
active flea infestation lived in a multipet household, whereas
487 of the 1190 cats (40·92 per cent) that did not have signs of
an active flea infestation lived in a multipet household. Living
in a multipet household significantly increased (P<0·001) the
risk of either a dog or cat having a flea infestation.
Of the owners whose pets had signs of an active flea infes-
tation, 90 (49·72 per cent) of the dog owners and 153 (48·11
per cent) of the cat owners were unaware that their pet had
fleas. In addition, 75 of the dog owners (41·44 per cent) and
113 of the cat owners (35·53 per cent) were unaware that if
their pet had fleas then the large part of the fleas’ life cycle
FIG 1: Map showing the distribution of the 31 veterinary
practices that took part in a survey of flea infestation in dogs
and cats during 2005
Number (%) of fleas identified in samples from
Flea species Cats Dogs
Ctenocephalides felis 462 (98·93) 313 (93·15)
Ctenocephalides canis 1 (0·21) 5 (1·49)
Pulex irritans 2 (0·43) 5 (1·49)
Archaeopsylla erinacei 1 (0·21) 12 (3·57)
Spilopsyllus cuniculi 1 (0·21) 0
Ceratophyllus fasciatus 0 1 (0·30)
Total identified 467 (100) 336 (100)
Unidentifiable 18 8
TABLE 1: Numbers of each flea species identified, and
percentage of the total identified, in samples obtained from
cats and dogs by 28 veterinary practices during a survey of flea
infestation in the
UK during 2005
Number of Flea species identified Mixed flea infestations
Area of
UK practices in area in area – where identified
Northern Ireland 2 Ctenocephalides felis
NA
Ctenocephalides canis
Scotland 4 C felis
NA
C canis
Archaeopsylla erinacei
Spilopsyllus cuniculi
North 5 C felis
NA
C canis
A erinacei
Midlands 3 C felis
NA
A erinacei
Wales 1 C felis
NA
South west 3 C felis C felis + Pulex irritans
A erinacei (Practice 25, case 1)
P irritans
London 5 C felis C felis + C Canis
C canis (Practice 6, case 15)
P irritans
South east 5 C felis C felis + Ceratophyllus
C canis fasciatus (Practice 4,
A erinacei case 15)
C fasciatus
NA Not applicable
TABLE 2: Distribution of flea species identified in samples obtained from cats and dogs by 28
veterinary practices during a survey of flea infestation in the
UK during 2005
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Papers & Articles
The Veterinary Record, April 14, 2007
(eggs, larvae and pupae) would be developing in their home
environment.
Both fleas and skin lesions that could potentially have
been compatible with
FAD were recorded in all regions of the
UK on both cats and dogs, with the exception of the single
practice in Wales that contributed data on only four dogs
and two cats (Table 3). Excluding the Welsh data, the preva-
lence of fleas and/or skin lesions that could potentially have
been compatible with
FAD ranged from 4·40 per cent in dogs
in north England and 12·59 per cent in cats in Scotland, to
14·73 per cent in dogs and 38·46 per cent in cats in the south
east of England. The overall prevalence of fleas and/or skin
lesions that could potentially have been compatible with
FAD
was 7·46 per cent in dogs and 22·28 per cent in cats.
DISCUSSION
The results of this study are in broad agreement with the
results of previous surveys of flea carriage in dogs and cats
in the
UK (Beresford-Jones 1981, Chesney 1995, Clark 1999),
and confirm that C felis is the species of flea found most com-
monly in both cats and dogs. C felis was also by far the domi-
nant species found on cats in New Zealand (Guzman 1984),
Greece (Koutinas and others 1995), Ireland (Wall and others
1997), France (Cadiergues and others 2000) and Germany
(Visser and others 2001).
The flea species of importance in dogs appeared to show
marked geographical variation. C felis was the flea species
found most commonly on dogs in the present survey, and
also in previous surveys conducted in the
UK (Beresford-
Jones 1981, Chesney 1995, Clark 1999), Germany (Visser and
others 2001) and France (Franc and others 1998), but C canis
dominated the flea species recovered from dogs in Ireland
(Wall and others 1997), Greece (Koutinas and others 1995),
Argentina (Gonzalez and others 2004) and New Zealand
(Guzman 1984). An earlier report from the
UK indicated that
C canis accounted for 84 per cent of the fleas recovered from
dogs (Edwards 1969), suggesting that the relative abundance
of C felis on dogs may be a more recent phenomenon. C canis
may be more adapted to the lower temperatures found in cer-
tain geographical areas, or in dogs kept outdoors in kennels
(Chesney 1995, Wall and others 1997).
Although nearly all the fleas were C felis, five other species
were found, indicating that dogs and cats act as hosts for a
variety of species. It seems likely that cats and dogs become
carriers of monoxenous flea species, such as S cuniculi and
A erinacei, through hunting and exposure to the primary
hosts of these species, rabbits and hedgehogs, respectively.
The more frequent isolation of A erinacei from dogs than
cats suggests that cats may have less interest in or be more
circumspect when approaching hedgehogs. The source of the
‘human flea’, P irritans, for the dogs and cats is not certain;
a human host is possible, but the species has also been asso-
ciated with pigs, badgers and rats (Soulsby 1982). A recent
report from Hungary reported that 62 of 100 red foxes were
infested with P irritans (Sreter and others 2003).
The carriage of the rabbit flea, S cuniculi, by cats and dogs
could lead to the transfer of the fleas on to pet rabbits kept in
the same household. Fleas are an important vector of myxo-
matosis, and unvaccinated pet rabbits could be at risk from
the disease.
To the authors’ knowledge, none of the previous studies
of the prevalence of flea infestations on dogs and cats in the
UK has looked at such a large sample of the pet population.
The overall prevalence of flea infestations on dogs (7·46 per
cent) and cats (22·28 per cent) and for the London area were
substantially lower than those reported by Beresford-Jones
(1981), who found a prevalence at postmortem examination
of 20·2 per cent in dogs and 56 per cent in cats from central
London. These differences might be due to local geographical
differences, differences in case recruitment, or a lower overall
prevalence of flea infestation as a result of the widespread use
of modern insecticides in animals that visit veterinary prac-
tices. However, the overall prevalence of the flea infestations
on the dogs and cats, and the prevalence in the Midlands
region (dogs 4·68 per cent, cats 21·88 per cent) were very
similar to those reported by Clark (1999), who found that 7·8
per cent of 257 dogs and 20·6 per cent of 126 cats in Leicester
were infested by C felis in 1995 to 1996.
In both the dogs and cats, the highest prevalence of flea
infestations and skin lesions that could potentially have been
compatible with
FAD was found in the south east of England,
for reasons that are not clear. Factors that may affect the
prevalence of fleas in different regions are likely to include
climate (temperature and humidity), the density of the pet
population and of the wildlife population, and a number of
socioeconomic factors.
The higher prevalence of fleas and signs suggestive of
FAD
observed in cats than dogs might be associated with the out-
door, roaming lifestyle often adopted by cats in the
UK. It has
been suggested that cats may roam more widely than dogs,
thus having more opportunity to acquire fleas from contact
with other mammals or infested environments (Kramer and
Mencke 2001a, b). Cats may also have resting places out-
doors that would be unlikely to be treated with insecticide.
The higher prevalence of flea infestations on cats and dogs
in households with more than one pet indicates that keep-
ing more than one pet is a risk factor for flea infestation. In
particular, dogs living with cats are at increased risk, possibly
owing to the roaming lifestyle of cats and their potential to
transport fleas back to the home.
To the authors’ knowledge there is no published informa-
tion on the awareness of pet owners about flea infestations
in the
UK. In this survey, a large number of the owners were
unaware not only of their pet’s flea infestation, but also of the
implications of this infestation for their home environment, a
lack of awareness that has potential health and welfare impli-
cations for both the pets and the families with whom they
live. This information suggests that the veterinary profession
Number of practices Number (%) of dogs with Number (%) of cats with
Area of
UK in area Fleas FAD Fleas or FAD* Fleas FAD Fleas or FAD*
Northern Ireland 2 18 (8·78) 3 (1·46) 18 (8·78) 25 (24·27) 7 (6·80) 25 (24·27)
Scotland 4 16 (5·08) 4 (1·27) 17 (5·40) 17 (11·89) 6 (4·20) 18 (12·59)
North 7 24 (3·91) 15 (2·44) 27 (4·40) 55 (17·57) 21 (6·71) 58 (18·53)
Midlands 4 16 (4·16) 10 (2·60) 18 (4·68) 45 (20·09) 18 (8·04) 49 (21·88)
Wales 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
South west 3 18 (7·66) 5 (2·13) 19 (8·09) 23 (22·12) 6 (5·77) 23 (22·12)
London 5 18 (5·66) 14 (4·40) 23 (7·23) 32 (13·39) 15 (6·28) 36 (15·06)
South east 5 69 (14·32) 36 (7·47) 71 (14·73) 105 (36·71) 46 (16·08) 110 (38·46)
*Some individuals with signs of
FAD had no evidence of fleas, and vice versa
TABLE 3: Regional prevalence of flea infestation and signs potentially compatible with flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) in dogs and cats
in 31 veterinary practices during a survey of flea infestation in the UK during 2005
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and the animal health industry should try to improve pet
owners’ awareness of the problem of flea infestation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors thank the staff of all the veterinary practices that
took part in the survey and all pet owners who consented to
their pets’ involvement.
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doi: 10.1136/vr.160.15.503
2007 160: 503-506Veterinary Record
R. Bond, A. Riddle, L. Mottram, et al.
the United Kingdom during 2005
Survey of flea infestation in dogs and cats in
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