Distribution - worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical countries
Animal hosts - poultry, rabbits, rodents, cats, dogs, wild animals
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External Appearance
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Significance
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lack of genal and pronotal combs (combless)
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combs seen in dog and cat fleas
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lack of a pleural rod
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a pleural rod is seen in Xenopsylla fleas
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prominent laciniae on the maxilla are broad and coarsely serrated
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aid in firm attachment to host
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2 pairs of setae (hairs) are present behind the antennae
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3 thick and 1 smaller pair of setae (hairs) are present on the last leg segment
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The fleas may reside in a home associated with pets, furniture or the carpet.
Usual location of lesions on humans - exposed areas on the hands, arms and lower extremities. The flea may be seen by the patient.
Skin lesions:
(1) papules, vesicles, bullae
(2) extremely pruritic
(3) may be excoriated from scratching
Skin biopsy shows perivascular and dermal inflammatory cell infiltrate with eosinophils.
