Risk Factors for Flea Infection for a Canine Population in Commerce, GA

In veterinary medicine one of the most common problems for dogs and cats is flea infection. Fleas can cause many health problems, for example: dermatitis, skin infection, flea-borne pathogens, and parasite transmission. Some well-known diseases associated with the cat flea include Bartonella henslea, flea borne spotted fever, typhus, tapeworm infestations. There are several ways for owners to prevent the infestation of their canine pets, for example, topical medication, oral medicine, bathing, and cleaning products. Comon risk factors associated with flea infection include region, weather, lifestyle, and prevention status.  We wanted to see if the dogs age, weight, breed or coloration played a role in the presence of fleas, or if it all depended on the dog’s flea prevention status.   

We collected fleas from canine patients at a single hospital in Commerce, Georgia.  From there, we identified the fleas and recorded the canine patient’s signalment. Overall, we collected information from 288 canine patients, with 36 of them infected by fleas. We collected and identified 323 fleas using a compound microscope. All the fleas were identified as Ctenocephalides felis. Information on canine age, breed, and size was sorted into categories and analyzed using logistic regression. By comparing canine patients with and without fleas, we can determine the importance of age, weight, and breed of the canine to the presence of fleas. This information can be used to inform owners of how susceptible their canine companions are to being infected by fleas.