[Digestion of blood by Leptopsylla segnis fleas]

The digestion of blood by L. segnis was investigated by hystological and hystochemical methods. The protease activity in the stomachs of these flease was found to be very high. After the feeding erythrocytes do not stick together and fibrin precipitates only in a shape of filaments. As a result a dense clot of formed elements and plasma-proteins does not appear. Hemolysis of erythrocytes in adult fleas (maintained 7 to 10 days in the nest with the host prior to the test) ceases within 15--20 minutes while in young ones (up to 24 hours old)--within 1--1.5 hour.