What is the disease caused by fleas in animals called? - briefly
The condition is called flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). It is an allergic skin reaction in animals triggered by flea bites.
What is the disease caused by fleas in animals called? - in detail
Fleas are ectoparasites that transmit several pathogenic agents to mammals. The most common clinical condition in domestic animals is flea‑induced allergic dermatitis, a hypersensitivity reaction that appears after a single bite in sensitised hosts. The disease manifests as intense pruritus, erythema, papules and crusted lesions, primarily on the lower abdomen, base of the tail and hind limbs. Diagnosis relies on visual identification of adult fleas or flea dirt, skin scrapings to exclude other dermatoses, and a history of sudden itching.
In addition to allergic reactions, fleas serve as vectors for:
- Plague (caused by Yersinia pestis). Rodents and carnivores acquire the infection when bitten by infected fleas; the disease can present as septicemia, bubonic swelling or pneumonic involvement.
- Murine typhus (Rickettsia typhi). Flea feces contain the bacteria; ingestion during grooming leads to fever, headache and rash in cats, dogs and humans.
- Dipylidiasis (Dipylidium caninum). The tapeworm uses the flea as an intermediate host; ingestion of infected fleas results in adult tapeworms in the intestine, causing mild gastrointestinal upset and proglottid passage in feces.
Control measures focus on interrupting the flea life cycle:
- Topical or oral adulticides applied monthly to eliminate existing fleas.
- Insect growth regulators (IGRs) to prevent development of eggs, larvae and pupae in the environment.
- Regular washing of bedding, vacuuming of carpets and treatment of indoor areas with appropriate insecticides.
- Routine veterinary examinations to detect early signs of allergic dermatitis or vector‑borne infections.
Therapeutic options for allergic dermatitis include antihistamines, corticosteroids, and immunomodulatory drugs to reduce inflammation. Antibiotics are indicated only when secondary bacterial infection is confirmed. For plague or typhus, specific antimicrobial regimens (streptomycin, doxycycline) are required, while dipylidiasis is treated with praziquantel or niclosamide.
Effective management combines immediate parasite eradication, long‑term environmental control, and targeted medical therapy to resolve clinical signs and prevent recurrence.