Identification and morphological characterization of two human and dog fleas species in Al-Wusita- Libya

Abdulwahed B. Hador; Ahmad. M. H. Ekhnefer; Salem M. Bowashia; Faisal F. Mohammed

doi:10.54172/3vxte587

Authors

Abdulwahed B. Hador Department of Zoology, Faculties of Science, Omar AL mukhtar university, Al-Byda, Libya Author
Ahmad. M. H. Ekhnefer Department of Zoology, Faculties of Science, Omar AL mukhtar university, Al-Byda, Libya. Author
Salem M. Bowashia Department of Zoology, Faculties of Science, Omar AL mukhtar university, Al-Byda, Libya. Author
Faisal F. Mohammed Department of Zoology, Faculties of Science, Benghazi University El-Marj branch. Libya. Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54172/3vxte587

Keywords:

Human flea, Pulex irritans, dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis, morphology, identification, Al-Wusita area

Abstract

Fleas (Siphonaptera) are holometabolus, flat-topped, wingless insects that are highly specialized as ectoparasites. Both adult sexes are blood-sucking ectoparasites that live on mammals and birds. As parasites and disease vectors, fleas are crucial to maintaining public health. Only a small portion of the 2.574 flea species that have been described live in close proximity to people. From it, only fifteen species have been recorded in Libya. The study was carried out in different locations in the Al-Wusita area, which is located north of Al-Bayda city in the Al-Jabal Al-Akhder area in North-Eastern Libya. A total of 56 fleas were collected randomly from different hosts (goats and dogs), whereas the examined cats had no fleas. All specimens were adults (32% males and 68% females) that belonged to two species: Pulex canis and Ctenocephalides canis. Among those, C. canis (79%) was collected from both goats and dogs, while P. irritans (21%) was collected from dogs. A microscopic examination of the morphological characteristics of P. irritans and C. canis revealed typical characteristics of both species; after matching it with the classification keys and previous studies that were conducted. Both species have medical and veterinary importance. Therefore, we must pay attention to fleas and prevent diseases transmitted by them by controlling dogs and vaccinating goats and other grazing animals.

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