Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) with public health relevance in domestic pigs (Artiodactyla: Suidae) from Argentina

SANCHEZ, JULIANA P.; EZQUIAGA MARÍA CECILIA; RUIZ, MELANIE

ZOOTAXA

MAGNOLIA PRESS

Lugar: Auckland; Año: 2018

1175-5326

The presence of fleas canhave a great negative impact on the productivity and wellbeing of the animals,and can contribute towards propagation of causative pathogens of importantdiseases in animals and humans. Fleas and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) are a known association in the world.However, knowledge about fleas on pigs forArgentina is scarce. In this country, the swine farming became one of themain components of livestock production. This activity is primarily carried outby smallholder farmers, involvinga potential risk to humans to acquire pathogens. Our studywas developed in Buenos Aires province, Argentina,in a region where there is strong swine livestockactivity. We provide the first record for Argentina of Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché,1835) and Pulex irritans Linnaeus,1758 in domestic pigs, and the first data for the countryof parasitological indexes of fleas in pigs. Ctenocephalides felis felisand P. irritans cause discomfort, nuisance, allergic reactions, anaemia,and are known as vectors of several pathogens with importance for public health.The high prevalence and abundance of C. felis felis and P. irritans observed in pigs from Azul, Buenos Aires aresignificant, and the absence of them in other studied localities could respondto environmental characteristics. This paper expands the knowledge about theflea diversity associated with S. scrofain Argentina and contributes to the knowledge of the ecologyand biology of two cosmopolitan fleas and with public health relevance. This information is important for future epidemiologicalstudies, as well as to establish prevention and control measures whereappropriate.