Untersuchungen zur Populationsdynamik von Flöhen auf Hunden und Katzen im Großraum Regensburg

Investigations on the Population Dynamics of Fleas in Dogs and Cats
in the Region of Regensburg, Germany The objective of this study
was to compile epidemiological data about the occurrence and
distribution of flea infestation by parasitological screening of
dogs and cats in the area of Regensburg. Simultaneously, pet owners
have been interviewed by use of a questionnaire regarding their
experience with flea infestation of their animals and in the
environment. The mean infestation rate for dogs was 10 % and for
cats 16.3 %. The highest infestation rate for dogs and cats was in
August with 20 % for dogs and 36 % for cats. The lowest prevalence
of fleas was reported in Januar for dogs (2 %) and in December for
cats (8 %). The dominant flea species for dogs (75 %) and cats
(92.2 %) was Ctenocephalides felis. Furthermore, Ctenocephalides
canis, Archaeopsylla erinacei, Pulex irritans, Ceratophyllus garei,
Ceratophyllus gallinae and Spilopsyllus cuniculi were found. With
respect to the living sights remarkable more cats from the rural
areas (21.6 %) showed a flea infestation. A similar finding could
not be confirmed for the examined dogs from urban (9.4 %) and rural
(10.6 %) regions. Moreover, it was observed that dogs living in
groups (16.7 %) showed significantly higher rates of flea
infestation than single husbanded (5.2 %) dogs. There was no
correlation between the rate of flea infestation and the status of
husbandry (group or single) by cats. Long-haired dogs (16.3 %)
showed much higher rates of flea infestation than short-haired (3.9
%) dogs. The same correlation could not be confirmed for cats. The
need for efficient and preventive flea control in animals and in
their environment is also reconfirmed by the results of single case
studies which have been conducted in households with animals
already infested by fleas. Thus, on sleeping zones and near dogs
and cats infested adult fleas have been confirmed but also flea
excrements, flea eggs and flea larvae. These results impressively
demonstrate that the narrow environment is a source of flea
infestations.