Are animal fleas dangerous to humans? Surprisingly, even people can suffer from small bloodsuckers that parasitize on the body of pets. In our material, I would like to highlight individual varieties of fleas, to present their description. Also consider effective methods of combating such insects. Let's find out if cat fleas and other pets are dangerous for humans.
Cat fleas
They are the most common flea species. They feed mainly on the blood of cats. However, they can parasitize on other domestic animals.
Are cat fleas dangerous to humans? Feeding on the blood of people, such parasites cause not only painful sensations. Their bites lead to the appearance of all kinds of irritations on the surface of the delicate epidermis. Cat fleas also act as carriers of all kinds of skin diseases.
Dog fleas
Dog fleas parasitize on human four-legged friends. If this opportunity presents itself, they do not disdain the blood of people. This variety of insects is extremely tenacious. Representatives of the species are able to do without food for many months.
The body of dog fleas has a flattened shape and is covered with hooked villi. Thanks to this feature, they are able to quickly move in thick wool and penetrate the skin. The hind legs of these bloodsuckers have a considerable length, which allows them to travel long distances without any problems in search of a new victim.
Are dog fleas dangerous for humans? The bites of such insects are extremely painful for people. The structure of their saliva lacks a natural anticoagulant that prevents blood coagulation. Therefore, in place of the bites there are textured marks that are very itchy. In some cases, the attack of dog fleas on a person causes the development of allergic reactions.
Chicken Flea Information
Such bloodsuckers have the smallest sizes. The length of their body is not more than one and a half millimeters. For this reason, chicken fleas can remain invisible to humans for a long time until their colonies are numerous.
Infection of poultry occurs as a result of contact with wild birds. The main carriers of these small parasites are pigeons, crows, and sparrows. Once on the chicken’s body, such parasites firmly cling to the feathers with elongated hind legs.
However, they are extremely sensitive to environmental conditions. If the temperature drops below 40 ° C, chicken fleas will die soon enough. Therefore, individuals of this species rarely leave the host.
Are chicken fleas dangerous for humans? In view of the above features, it is quite difficult for these insects to settle on the body of people. Our temperature is not suitable for the active reproduction of such small pests.
Moose fleas
Moose flea - a parasite insect, also known by the definition of deer bloodsucker. Outwardly, adults resemble a miniature, extremely mobile fly, which has a strong physique, like a regular flea. The insect has strong legs, which repels it for jumping over considerable distances. A pair of wings helps to search for elk flea victims. The body length of such insects ranges from 3 to 5 mm.
Smelling a warm-blooded creature, the insect immediately rushes to him. Once on the victim’s body, a moose flea snagged on him. Having settled here, throws off wings. Further, the parasite proceeds to active mass gain and reproduction.
Is moose flea dangerous for humans? Such bloodsuckers can attack a person only in the daytime. After all, they are looking for a suitable victim, relying on the visual organs. Most often, hunters who process elk or deer carcasses directly in the forest suffer from such parasites. Fleas of the presented species attack only adults. For an unknown reason, children are absolutely not interested in them. Probably the size of the potential prey is of importance to insects.
Earth fleas
Under natural habitats, earthen fleas live in the upper soil layer. However, in some circumstances, such bloodsuckers can settle in the premises. Most often this happens when the larvae of the parasite catch on animal hair, shoes or human clothing, getting into the house. Usually they settle in crevices of floor coverings, behind skirting boards, in furniture structures. Often, large colonies fill the basement, living nearby heating mains.
Are fleas of this species dangerous to humans? Like other similar parasites, they deliver a whole lot of discomfort to the inhabitants of apartments and houses. The main problem is their rapid, mass reproduction. Over time, bloodsuckers become extremely aggressive, biting pets and people.
Rat fleas
The "hosts" of these parasites are small rodents. A distinctive feature of such bloodsuckers is an elongated body. They are able to grow up to 4 mm. The main source of food is the blood of rats and mice that live in human buildings. With a lack of food, these creatures can parasitize on the body of people.
Are rodent fleas dangerous for humans? These small parasites pose a significant threat to human health. After all, adults often act as carriers of the causative agent of plague and typhoid. People can also be infected by parasites, in particular, tapeworm.
The causative agents of diseases that are carried by fleas
To understand whether fleas from a dog, cat or any other animal are dangerous for a person, it is enough to look at the widest list of ailments, the carriers of which are such parasites. Among the most serious diseases it is worth noting here:
- Helminthiasis.
- Plague and typhoid fever.
- Dermatitis.
- Pseudotuberculosis.
- Pulicosis.
- Erythema.
- Brucellosis.
- Encephalitis.
- Anthrax.
What to do if a flea has bitten?
We found out whether fleas are dangerous for humans. Now let's note what actions should be taken to detect bites of small parasites.
You should never touch and scratch the marks left by the bloodsuckers once again. After all, this can lead to the introduction of dangerous infections into the body. First you need to treat the bite with an effective antiseptic. To eliminate the feeling of severe itching, just apply a piece of ice to the skin. The affected area must be lubricated with anti-allergic properties.
Preventative measures
Having figured out whether fleas are dangerous for a cat for humans, it is important to prevent their appearance and resettlement in the premises. For these purposes, preventive measures should be periodically performed. First of all, you need to regularly inspect pets for small parasites. If fleas are found, the animal's coat should be immediately treated with special means to combat blood-sucking pests.
Taking pets for a walk is recommended in special collars that exude a flea-repellent scent. This is especially important if the pet is in contact with stray animals.
To protect yourself from the spread of fleas in the apartment, it is enough to periodically perform a comprehensive cleaning of the housing. At the same time, it is important to pay attention to cleaning all kinds of gaps and nooks in which pests are able to hide.
Preparing to expel fleas from home
Before proceeding directly to the destruction of small bloodsuckers, it is worth resorting to some preparatory actions. These parasites can live not only on the body of pets. The most secluded places in the apartment are able to love pests. All kinds of crevices in the coverings, bedding, the space under the furniture, carpet paths - this is where fleas breed.
In order to prepare for the elimination of the problem, it is worthwhile to walk with a vacuum cleaner in all the back streets at a height of one and a half meters. After all, fleas rarely settle above the fleas. Clothes and bedding must be removed from the cabinets, and then sent to the laundry. It is advisable to heat the carpet and tablecloths with an iron. Such a solution will allow to destroy the bulk of flea larvae. Old cat or dog bedding should be discarded. Since they can become a source of reinfestation of housing with bloodsucking parasites.
Chemical processing
The most effective solution for expelling fleas from home is the use of chemicals. You can use not only aerosols and sprays, but also toxic liquids, contact insecticides. As practice shows, the most effective means here are: "Dichlorvos", "Sinuzan", "Raptor", "Get", "Raid", "Fenaxin", "Butox-50", "Neocidol". Each of these drugs contains substances that have a destructive effect on the tissues and nervous system of insects, which leads to a rather quick death.
Folk remedies against fleas
It is possible to expel small bloodsuckers from premises thanks to the use of odorous herbs, as well as products made on the basis of components of organic origin. The excellent result is the use of bitter wormwood, tansy, and rosemary. Such herbs are recommended to be laid out in the intended habitats of fleas - under furniture, on the floor, in cabinets, under mattresses.
Help in the fight against insects is capable of a product prepared using garlic and yeast. These ingredients must be crushed and mixed. It is enough to scatter the resulting composition in places where fleas are noticed. The only drawback of such a solution can be an extremely unpleasant smell, which is unbearable not only for insects, but can make the residents themselves leave the apartment.
Pest control
In some cases, driving fleas out of an apartment becomes not just difficult, but almost impossible. We are talking about situations where clutches of small parasites have spread en masse over vast areas. Eggs of blood-sucking pests are able to “wait in the wings” until favorable conditions for hatching of larvae come.
You can help to cope with the problem by calling professional pest control. Today, experts have a wide arsenal of insecticides. If fleas have already adapted to a specific poison, the use of new, potent chemicals will certainly give a result.