Flea species from dogs and cats in north-central Florida

Fleas were identified after removal from 100 dogs and 60 cats following routine presentation at a Veterinary Hospital in Gainesville, FL. Ctenocephalides felis comprised 92.4% and 99.8% of the fleas taken from dogs and cats respectively. Pulex irritans accounted for 7.5% of the fleas found on dogs and for 0.2% of those found on cats. Echidnophagia gallinacia was found on one dog. Of the 100 dogs, 80 were infested with C. felis alone, one with P. irritans alone, and 18 carried a mixed infestation of the two. One animal was infested with all three species. Ctenocephalides canis was not identified amongst the total of 1887 fleas examined.