Endo > Fleas > Flashcards

Fleas Flashcards

(42 cards)

Study These Flashcards
1
Q

Define ectoparasites

A

Spend some or all of their lives parasitising animals and usually live on or burrow into the surface of host’s skin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define parasitoids

A

Parasites that will eventually kill the host

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the 3 body parts of insects?

A
  • Head
  • Abdomen
  • Thorax
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Describe the anatomy of fleas

A
  • Cones on legs (hairs that point backwards)
  • Large hind legs for jumping
  • Are Siphonaptera: suck through tube and have no wings
  • Coiled internalised penis, ejected for copulation
  • Sensilium detects CO2 levels, directing flea to food source
  • Laterally flattened
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe the structure of exoskeleton

A
  • Aka cuticle
  • Made of chitin
  • Site of muscle attachment
  • Limits absolute size and size of each growing stage
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How does growth occur in fleas?

A
  • Only through moulting

- Exoskeleton limits size of each stage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the layers of the exoskeleton?

A
  • Exocuticle
  • Endocuticle
  • Epidermis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How is O2 transported around the body?

A

Dissolved in haemolymph

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe the respiratory apparatus of insects

A
  • Spiracles in exoskeleton are breathing holes
  • Often covered by hairs and oil
  • Oil stops water going in and drowing insect
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Describe the digestive system of insects

A
  • Tube with lots of absorption
  • Major route of infectious agent transmission (mouth or back end)
  • Most blood suckers eject substances while feeding e.g. anticoagulants
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the 2 types of life cycle?

A
  • Hemimetabola

- Holometabola

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Define hemimetabola

A
  • Partial metamorphism

- Nymphal stage instead of larval stage (i.e. small adults)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Define holometabola

A
  • Full metamorphism
  • Egg, larval, pupak and adult stages
  • All look different
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the main feature of orthoptera?

A

Straight wings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the main feature of diptera?

A

2 wings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the main feature of siphonaptera?

A

Tube no wings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe the feeding habits of fleas

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Adult males and females are obligate blood-sucking parasites
  • Larvae live off detritus e.g. dandruff in carpets
18
Q

Name the cat flea

Study These Flashcards
A

Ctenophalides felis

19
Q

Name the dog flea

Study These Flashcards
A

Ctenophalides canis

- But are most commonly infected with felis

20
Q

Name the hen flea

Study These Flashcards
A

Ceratophyllus gallinae

21
Q

Name the rabbit flea

Study These Flashcards
A

Spilopsyllus cuniculi

- But pet rabbits most commonly infected with Ctenophalides felis

22
Q

Name the european hedgehog flea

Study These Flashcards
A

Arhaeopsylla erinacei

23
Q

How can fleas be distinguished?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Genal and pronotal cones

- Head shape

24
Q

Compare the appearance of the cat, dog and hen flea

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Cat: genal and pronotal cones present
  • Dog: more rounded head, pronotal and genal cones, first pronotal cone is smaller than the rest
  • Hen: only genal cones
25
Describe the flea life cycle
- Adults lay eggs (~25/day) - Eggs can last for months or hatch out in a week depending on conditions - Hatch into larvae - 3 instas - Then pupae - Then adults
26
Describe the larval stage of fleas
- 3 stages of development (instars) - Negatively phototrophic, positively geotrophic- - Develop in 5-11 days - Feed of detritus
27
Describe the pupal stage of fleas
- Approx 5mm long - Pupa/cocoon covered in environmental debris - 1 week to fully develop - May remain within cocoon once fully developed until senses appropriate sitmuli
28
How can fleas cause disease?
- irritation - Allergy - Blood loss (anaemia) - Spread of infections
29
Describe the direct effects of fleas
- Blood sucking adult females can suck 13.6u blood/day - Severe infestation of young/old animals can lead to anaemia - Substances in flea saliva act as allergens - Result in inflammation and pruritus
30
Describe flea allergic dermatitis
- FAD - Commonhypersensitivity reaction in cats and dogs - Significantly more likely to have signs of FAD when from multi-pet households due to increased spread - Sensitised animals intermittently exposed have greatest reaction - Reduced reaction in sensitised, constantly exposed animals
31
Describe the indirect effects of fleas
- Vectors/hosts for wide range of pathogens - Myxomatosis - Bartonella henselae - feline infectious anaemia - Yersinia pestis (plague) - Rickettsia felis - Dipylidium caninum
32
Describe the role of fleas in the transmission of Dipylidium caninum
- Flea larvae eat tapeworm eggs - Eggs hatch and develop within flea body cavity as flea develops - Tapeworm larvae eventually form infective cysticercoid within adult flea - Adult fleas eaten by host during grooming - Cysticercoid enters digestive tract and develops into tapeworms - Tapeworm eggs passed in faeces
33
Outline key points in flea control
- Adulticides - Envionrmental - removal of those on host
34
List adulticides effective against fleas
- Organophosphates - Pyrethroids - Carbamates - Fipronil
35
Describe the use fo organophosphates and carbamates in flea control
- e.g.diazinon and carbofuran - Anti-acetylcholinesterases - Overstimulation of nicotininc synapses - Organophosphates bind irreversibly to AchE, carbamates bind reversibly - Kill and repel fleas
36
Describe the use of pyrethins and pyrethroids in flea control
- Act on Na channels in neurones, discharges and depolarisation - Powders, collars, sprays - Kill and repel felas
37
Describe the use of fiprinol in the control of fleas
- Interfere with GABA neurotransmission - Disinhibition of neurotransmission in invertebrates - Kills but does not repel fleas - Spot on
38
Describe the use of neonicotinoids in the control of fleas
- Imidacloprid, nitempyram, dinoefuran - Stimulate nicotinic receptors like OPs but not via AcheE - Found in insects and not mammals so safe for mammals (but bees are a worry) - Kill but do not repel fleas - Spot-on
39
Describe insect growth regulators
- Either striaght hormones or analogues of those involved in life cycles of insects - e.g. Lufernuron, Methoprene
40
Describe Lufenuron in flea control
- Inhibis chitin surface, prevents moulting, get soft and do not survive well - Oral or by injection - Stored in cat/dog's fat and released into blood, taken up by fleas - Prevents development of larvae in egg and subsequent moults
41
Describe methoprene in flea control
- Prevents pupae moulting into adults - In nature, drop in this triggers moult to adulthood - Juvelnile hormone (JH) analogue - Spot on/spray or environmental use - Usually mixed with insecticide e.g. fipronil
42
What is the dorsal vessels?
Vessel that runs along the dorsum of insects internally, carries haemolymph
Endo
flashcards
Decks in class (30)
# Cards
Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2026 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions