Our world is the host of more than 2,000 species of fleas, and they are always a problem everywhere. The most common is the Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea). Contrary to its name, cat fleas are parasitic to dogs, cats, and wild animals like pocket animals - and they are always annoying for owners. When a flea jumps on a host, it will begin to eat within 5 minutes and suck blood for almost 2.5 hours.
Fleas are the most voracious and time consuming to suck up to 15 times their body weight. A flea can parasitize dogs and cats for nearly 2 months.
How long do fleas live
The life cycle of a flea consists of 4 phases: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Adult fleas are 1-4mm long and have a flattened lateral body, without wings and heavily developed legs to jump. Color varies from slightly brown to dark brown. The larvae are 4-10mm long, white in color, they have no legs but are very mobile. Cocoons are well disguised because they are very sticky and are quickly surrounded by fine dust and sand particles.
Both male and female fleas suck the blood. Fleas are protected from light and are mostly found in fluff or feathers of animals or in human bedding or clothing. Most fleas bite the blood of one or two host species, but in the absence of their preferred host it bites humans or other animals. How long do fleas live is always the common question. Adult fleas can starve, live for several months. Fleas move by jumping, some species can jump as high as 30cm.
Diseases caused by fleas
Humans are most commonly bitten by cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis), followed by dog fleas (C. canis), human fleas (Pulex irritans). Flea bites are itchy and sometimes very uncomfortable. Burns too much can lead to allergies and dermatitis.
Plague bacteria are transmitted by fleas and humans can become infected by fleas that suck on the blood of animals stung by the plague. In the past, the plague has been called the black dead and has been the cause of catastrophic outbreaks.
Flea-borne fever is also known as mouse rash. It is spread mainly by rat and cat fleas, and humans are infected by contamination from dry feces and flea carcasses.
Prevention measures
The prevention measures used depend on whether the goal is to kill infectious fleas or common fleas.
To prevent plague and typhoid fever spread by fleas occurring in the city, two measures to kill rats must be combined and sprayed with chemicals to kill the rats' habitat to kill fleas.
For troublesome fleas, personal self-protection measures such as repellants can be used, and clothing soaked with insecticides can be used. Clean the house, bedroom, regularly wash blankets, spray or spray insecticide in the crevices, crevices, and corners of the room. For dog fleas, cats use chemicals to sprinkle, spray, bathe their fur, or use lufenuron. Lufenuron in the bloodstream is absorbed by the female flea when biting the host, preventing the development of eggs. Alternatively, flea collars impregnated with chemicals can be used in animals.
Specialist in reproduction
Flea infections are very easy to lose control quickly. Because fleas lay eggs in extremely large numbers. At a rate of 40-50 eggs / day for about 50 days, a female can produce 2,000 eggs. These eggs hatch into larvae, which then pupate.
Large numbers of immature fleas can remain dormant inside the pupa or an existing cocoon around the home for weeks to months. Only when the right conditions - when there is a combination of increased temperature, CO2 and exercise - will they hatch out of their cocoons as young and very hungry fleas, will they harm the pet.
95% of a flea's problem lies in the environment, with an adult flea making up only 5% of the cause of infection
Not just a skin hazard
Itching caused by fleas is also enough to be uncomfortable for dogs and cats. But fleas also cause many other serious health problems. Some flea bites can develop into a severe allergic reaction on some pets (known as atopic dermatitis) and manifest as symptoms, such as itching, which may persist. even when the flea is no longer on the body. Fleas also transmit tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum) in dogs, cats and even humans. In addition, fleas can transmit bacterial diseases.
Always watching
Adult fleas are easy to spot from time to time, especially in dogs with short, light hair. In dogs with dark hair, it is difficult to detect. Also, fleas can fall off when we brush the dog before we can see them, so it is possible that the dog has fleas but you will not be able to see them all the time.
Try to draw the skin near the corner of the animal's ear, use your hand or a comb to brush the fleas, and watch carefully when brushing. Most fleas grow to be about the size of a needle and will run or jump when touched.
Detecting fleas
Although you do not see any fleas, you should still look for objects such as pepper, the jet black appearance on the surface of fur and skin of the animal. These objects may appear 'droppings' from fleas.
You can confirm it easily by dabbing a little of this substance with a wet paper towel or cotton roll. If you see dark reddish brown or orange swirls, which are flea feces, then you can confirm that the pet has been infected with fleas.