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Fleas are vectors for viral, bacterial and rickettsial diseases of humans and other animals, as well as of protozoan and helminth parasites. [35] Bacterial diseases carried by fleas include murine or endemic typhus [34]: 124 and bubonic plague. [36] Fleas can transmit Rickettsia typhi, Rickettsia felis, Bartonella henselae, and the myxomatosis ...
Fleas can be drowned by immersion for about 24 hours; they may appear to be dead if immersed for shorter times, but can revive after some hours. [11] Soaps and surfactants can facilitate the death of fleas in bathing. The process of washing the flea (and the pet) removes integumental waxes on the flea's body and it dies from dehydration. [12 ...
The most infamous flea-to-human transmitted disease is the bubonic plague, which was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The plague, fevers, tularemia: The diseases fleas can carry and how to ...
The fleas that transmit the disease only directly infect humans when the rat population in the area is wiped out from a mass infection. [16] Furthermore, in areas with a large population of rats, the animals can harbor low levels of the plague infection without causing human outbreaks. [15]
Humans have their own species of fleas, Cohen said, but they can't live long off of people. She said a main determinant if you have fleas are long itchy red bites on the skin.
By stage 2 (days 1–2), penetration is complete and the flea has burrowed most of its body into the skin. Only the anus, the copulatory organs, and four rear air holes in fleas called stigmata remain on the outside of the epidermis. The anus will excrete feces that is thought to attract male fleas for mating, described in a later section.
The use of pyrethrin in products such as natural insecticides and pet shampoo, for its ability to kill fleas, increases the likelihood of toxicity in mammals that are exposed. Medical cases have emerged showing fatalities from the use of pyrethrin, prompting many organic farmers to cease use.
Problems caused by fleas may range from mild to severe itching and discomfort to skin problems and infections. Anemia may also result from flea bites in extreme circumstances. Furthermore, fleas can transmit tapeworms and diseases to pets. When fleas bite humans, they may develop an itching rash with small bumps that may bleed.