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1 Fleas are wingless insects with a laterally compressed body of
about 1.5-4 mm length. Like all insects they possess six legs and
three body segments. Taxonomically they belong to the order
Siphonaptera (Eckert et al. 2000) (Table 1). This family contains
several species and subspecies. Fleas represent one of the most
important ectoparasites (Mehl- horn 2000; Mehlhorn et al. 2001b).
At the moment there are more than 2000 described species and
subspecies throughout the world (Borror et al. 1981). These species
belong to the families Pulicidae, including Pulex spp.,
Ctenocephalides spp., Spilopsyllus spp. and Archaeopsyllus spp., or
the familia Ceratophyllidae with the genuses Ceratophyllus or
Nosopsyllus to mention only some of the most important veterinary
and human representatives. Fleas have a history of about 60 million
years and were already found on prehistoric mammals. While becoming
parasitic the original exterior of the two-wing insects, also
designated as the order Diptera, has changed by losing the wings in
the adults, whereas the larval form still has similarity with the
larva of the order Diptera (Strenger 1973). About 95% of the -2000
different flea species parasitize on mammals, 5% live on birds.
Table 1. Taxonomy of fleas Systematic Taxonomy Phylum Arthropoda
Tracheata (=Antennata) Subphylum Classis Insecta (Hexapoda) Ordo
Siphonapterida Familia Pulicidae Familia CeratophyUidae Genus
Ctenocephalides. Genus Ceratophyllus. Nosopsyllus Pulex.
The book describes in great detail the complex life cycle of fleas
based on the example of the cat flea ("Ctenocephalides" "felis"),
the most important ectoparasite worldwide. Besides being the cause
of painfully itching bites and allergic skin diseases, it is also a
vector for viruses, bacteria, nematodes and cestodes. Over the
years the market for insecticide use in small animals has become a
major segment of the chemical-pharmaceutical industry.
Insecticides of the new generation should not only fight the
existing infestation (therapy) but should also effectively prevent
new infestations for weeks (prophylaxis). The latest class of
chemicals developed to this effect are chloronicotinyls (syn.
neonicotinoides). Imidacloprid is the first member of this class of
insecticides with a high selectivity towards the site of action
within an insect. Applied to the skin it combats flea infestation
persistently. The book describes the development of the compound
from its discovery to its use in veterinary medicine.
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