Dog flea
The dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) is a small, wingless ectoparasite belonging to the family Pulicidae, measuring 2–4 mm in length, with a laterally compressed, reddish-brown to black body adapted for jumping and clinging to hosts.[1][2] It features distinctive combs of spines (ctenidia) on the head and thorax for gripping fur, and powerful hind legs enabling jumps of up to 19 inches forward or 8 inches high using the protein resilin.[1][3] Unlike the more prevalent cat flea (C. felis), the dog flea has a rounder head and shorter first genal spine, though the two species are morphologically similar and often co-occur.[1][4] The life cycle of C. canis is holometabolous, consisting of four stages—egg, larva, pupa, and adult—and typically completes in 2–4 weeks under optimal warm, humid conditions (21–32°C and 70–90% relative humidity), though pupae can remain dormant for months.[1][2] Females lay up to 27 white, oval eggs (0.1–0.5 mm) daily on the host after a blood meal, which drop off into the environment; these hatch in 3–7 days into worm-like larvae that feed on organic debris and adult flea feces, molting three times over 10–21 days before spinning a cocoon for the pupal stage (7–14 days).[1][3] Adults emerge responsive to vibrations, warmth, or carbon dioxide, immediately seeking a host and consuming up to 15 times their body weight in blood daily, with females living 4–25 days and males shorter.[2][3] Primarily infesting dogs, C. canis also parasitizes cats, coyotes, foxes, wolves, rabbits, rodents, and occasionally humans or other mammals, showing a preference for outdoor or rural canids.[1][2] It has a cosmopolitan distribution but is less common than C. felis in the United States (reported in 31 states), dominating in regions like Europe (e.g., Ireland, Greece), parts of Asia (e.g., Korea), and South America (e.g., Argentina, rural Chile).[1][5] Populations peak in late summer and early autumn in temperate climates, thriving in shaded, moist environments like kennels, bedding, or soil.[1] Of significant veterinary and medical importance, C. canis causes flea allergy dermatitis in sensitive dogs through salivary antigens during feeding, leading to intense itching, hair loss, and secondary infections.[1] It serves as an intermediate host for canine tapeworms like Dipylidium caninum (transmitted via ingestion of infected fleas) and filarial nematodes such as Acanthocheilonema reconditum, and vectors bacterial pathogens including Rickettsia typhi (murine typhus) and Bartonella species (e.g., cat-scratch disease agents).[2][3] While rare in humans, bites can cause irritation or allergic reactions, and heavy infestations exacerbate zoonotic risks in multi-pet households.[2] Effective control involves integrated pest management, including topical or oral insecticides on pets, environmental vacuuming, and washing to disrupt the off-host stages.[3]Taxonomy and Classification
Scientific classification
The dog flea is scientifically classified as Ctenocephalides canis (Curtis, 1826), originally described as Pulex canis by the British entomologist John Curtis in his 1826 publication British Entomology.[1][6] The species belongs to the order Siphonaptera, which encompasses all fleas, and is placed within the family Pulicidae, known for cosmopolitan flea species that infest mammals.[1] The genus name Ctenocephalides originates from Greek roots: "cteno-" meaning comb, referring to the comb-like structures (ctenidia), and "cephalides" relating to the head, highlighting the prominent genal and pronotal combs characteristic of the genus.[7] No major subspecies of C. canis are currently recognized in taxonomic authorities.[1]| Ctenocephalides canis taxonomic hierarchy |
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