An apparent flea-allergy dermatitis in kids and lambs

Heavy infestation of lambs in two herds and kids in one herd with the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis, accompanied by severe anaemia, eosinophilia and exudative dermatitis, is described. Flea infestation was more widespread during the summer months, when optimal climatic conditions for flea development prevail. The clinical and histological findings are discussed in the light of the pertinent literature. Recovery of the affected animals and normalization of the haematological values were observed after the insecticide treatment. Flea-allergic dermatitis is apparently the cause of the skin lesions in the lambs and kids.