Influence of the temperature on the development of the African cat flea Ctenocephalides felis strongylus (Jordan, 1925) (Siphonaptera : Pulicidae)

• Published in: Parasite (Paris) Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 155 - 159
• Main Authors: Yao, K P, N'Goran, K E, Franc, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.06.2010
• Subjects: Africa; Animals; Cats - parasitology; Climate; Ctenocephalides felis; Ctenocephalides felis felis; Environment; Felis; Life Expectancy; Pulicidae; Siphonaptera; Siphonaptera - classification; Siphonaptera - growth & development; Siphonaptera - pathogenicity; Siphonaptera - physiology; Temperature; Africa
• ISSN: 1252-607X
• DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2010172155

Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché, 1835) commonly called "cat's flea" presents two recognized subspecies: Ctenocephalides felis strongylus (Jordan, 1925), observed in the African continent, and Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835) in the other regions (North Africa, Europe and America) (Ménier and Beaucournu, 19991. In sub-Saharan Africa, the principal flea found in the pets and certain livestock (ovine, caprine and bovine), belongs to the subspecies C. f. strongylus. Some bio-ecologic parameters of C. f. strongylus were studied in various conditions of breeding and the results compared with those currently available for C. f. felis. At 75% +/- 5 of relative humidity, the development cycle of C. f. strongylus lasts 20-21 days at 27 degrees C and 16 to 17 days at 29 degrees C. In comparison with C. f. felis, it is shown that for identical breeding temperatures, the African subspecies of the cat flea develops itself slowly. This difference could be explained by the influence of the climate of their respective areas of distribution on their development cycle. With 75% +/- 5 of relative humidity, C. f. strongylus cannot survive more than 14 days in temperatures ranging between 27 and 29 degrees C, and this without any blood meal. Under the same conditions, this duration of survival does not exceed 16 days at 19 degrees C. But when C. f. strongylus has taken a first blood meal, its lifespan is much shorter when it is out of its host. Indeed, no individual is found living three days passed out of the fur of its host at 29 degrees C, five days at 27 degrees C and eight days at 19 degrees C. It is the same for C. f. felis. These data on bio-ecology of C. f. strongylus enable to understand the influence of temperature on its development cycle and consider more efficient strategies of control.