Page 226 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

Parasitology 195

Family Species Main hosts disease and comments
Siphonaptera Ctenocephalides felis, Cat, dog, most Can transmit Dipylidium sp.
(fleas) Ct. canis and others mammals have host tapeworm
adapted fleas
Pulex sp. Humans, pigs and May transmit a range of
other mammals diseases including typhus,
tularemia, and tapeworm
Xenopsylla sp. Rats and other May transmit Yersinia pestis-
rodents a cause of the bubonic ‘plague’

Notes: *There are many species of mosquitoes, not all are competent to transmit disease, to be an effective vector the pathogen
must be able to multiply in the insect (or tick) and the environmental conditions must be favourable so that the life cycle of the
vector can accommodate sufficient replication of the virus, parasite or other potential pathogen.

Figure 3.48a Typical louse life cycle in which there Figure 3.48b Typical fly life cycle characterized by
is no metamorphosis. (A) adult (insect – three pairs metamorphosis. (A) adult, (B) egg, (C) larva (maggot),
of legs), (B) egg, (C) nymphs. (D) pupa.

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