Ctenocephalides felis felis vs. Ctenocephalides canis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae): some issues in correctly identify these species

Abstract

Ctenocephalides felis felis is one of the most important ectoparasites of dogs and cats throughout the world, because of its geographical distribution, dual parasitological action as an infesting agent and a vector of diseases, the economic losses and the acquired resistance against common insecticides. In Brazil, it surpasses Ctenocephalides canis in distribution, number of host species infested, prevalence and epidemiological importance. However, in some studies the species have been misidentified on the basis of their morphological characters included in taxonomic keys. The morphological variations of chaetotaxy, especially those on the dorsal margin of the hind tibia and lateral metanotal area (LMA), found in certain specimens, have sometimes been erroneously treated as hybrids, in spite of the nonexistence of the two species of Ctenocephalides in the same municipality or region. This review focuses on the characteristics used for interspecific diagnosis and intraspecific variations found between the species. Data on distribution, hosts, prevalence and parasitological action are also presented as an auxiliary means for recognizing the species.

Dogs, cats, parasites, and humans in Brazil: opening the black box

“…Even if most fleas, lice, mites, and ticks infesting dogs and cats may be easily identified, the delineation of some species may be troublesome for non-taxonomists [51,52]. While some keys for fleas, lice, and ticks have been published in books [13,14,53] and journals [54-56], there are no comprehensive pictorial keys for the identification of dog and cat ectoparasites in Brazil (see Table 3 and Figure 3).…”

“…fleas are also widespread in Brazil [18,35,36,38,129], but C. felis felis surpasses C. canis in distribution, the latter being reputed to be more common in regions with more temperate climates, as in the south-east and south of the country [51]. Indeed, C. felis felis has been reported in 17 states (Alagoas, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Roraima, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo), while C. canis has been reported in only nine (Amazonas, Bahia, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo) [51]. As a consequence of the widespread distribution of Ctenocephalides spp.…”

Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis: introgressive hybridization?

“…Within this order, the genus Ctenocephalides Stiles & Collins, 1930 is one of the most studied lineages because they tend to parasitize domestic animals such as dogs, cats or other pets which may play an important role as bridging hosts for fleas of different animals (Dobler & Pfeffer, ). Thirteen species and four subspecies are recognized within this genus (Beaucournu & Ménier, ; Lawrence et al , ) out of which Ctenocephalides felis and C. canis have been the most studied species by different authors (Gil Collado, , ; Beaucournu & Launay, ; Lewis, ; Beaucournu & Ménier, ; Ménier & Beaucournu, ; Linardi & Guimarães, ; Durden & Traub, ; Linardi & Santos, ). From a morphological point of view, four subspecies of C. felis have been distinguished: C. felis felis Bouché, 1835, C. felis strongylus Jordan, 1925, C. felis orientis Jordan, 1925 and C. felis damarensis Jordan, 1936 (Hopkins & Rothschild, ).…”

Eficácia do fipronil em cães infestados com diferentes cargas parasitárias de Ctenocephalides felis felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

“…No Brasil, C. felis felis é a subespécie de pulga mais importante em animais de estimação, devido a sua distribuição geográfica, número de outros hospedeiros parasitados e competência vetorial (Linardi & Santos 2012).…”