Fleas, Lice, Bedbug Biology

and Control

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

Relate the biology of fleas, lice, and bedbugs to appropriate control measures

Objectiveهدف

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

Chacteristics

Life Cycle

Habits

Control Measures

Overviewمرور

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

Characteristics of Fleas

Wings absent.

Piercing-sucking mouthparts -- are blood feeders.

Body compressed laterally, legs relatively long and modified for jumping.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

Characteristics of Fleas

Complete metamorphosis -- eggs laid on the host, ground or in the nests of host.

The larvae feed on a wide variety of organic materials, including feces of the adult flea and their own cast skins.

Both adult male and female fleas feed on the blood of the host.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

Medical Importance of Fleas

A few flea species are vectors of plague and endemic or murine typhus.

Some burrow into the skin of man (Tunga penetrans).

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IPM methods to control fleas indoors:

(1) Cultural control: vacuum all rugs & floors several times a week, clean air ducts periodically, wash pet bedding in hot soapy water.

(2) Chemical control: treat pets with approved product and follow up with continuous treatment such as “flea pills” or flea collars as prescribed by your veterinarian -- treat rooms with persistent flea problems with residual or space insecticide or insect growth regulator sprays.

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IPM methods to control fleas outdoors:

(1) Chemical control: Should only be attempted if there is actual or threatened plague outbreak.

Kill the fleas first -- when surveillance shows fleas are gone, then control the rodents.

(2) Mechanical control: Fence yards & other small areas to keep out domestic & wild animals that might shed fleas in the area.

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Characteristics of Lice

Small, flat, wingless insects that live as ectoparasites only on mammals.

Piercing-sucking mouthparts -- blood feeders.

Eyes are small or absent.

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Characteristics of Lice

Gradual metamorphosis -- The eggs (“nits”) are usually attached to hairs or clothing of the host.

Lice spend their entire life on their host -- and don’t survive long away from the host (are temperature sensitive).

May be transferred from person to person by body contact or shared clothing.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

Types of Human Lice

Body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus):

Live on the clothing and feed on the host’s body, and lay eggs in the seams of clothing or attached to hairs of the body.

Spread from person to person through contact with infested individuals or clothing.

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Types of Human Lice

Head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis):Live on the head and attaches its eggs to the hairs.

Spread from person to person by direct contact, and sometimes on combs, hair brushes, stray hairs or hats.

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Types of Human Lice

Pubic or crab louse (Phthirus pubis):Lives in the pubic and perianal regions and other hairy parts of the body (armpits, mustache, beard, and eye lashes).

Spread by contact with infested humans or objects used by them, such as blankets -- sexual transmission is common.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

Medical Importance of Lice

The body louse is the vector of epidemic typhus and relapsing fever; the head louse is a secondary vector.

The pubic louse is not a known vector.

Louse feeding causes skin irritation that may progress to secondary medical problems, and their presence is objectionable in terms of personal hygiene.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

Lice control

Methods differ for the 3 species that infest humans, based on each species’ habits.

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Head Lice

(1) Cultural control: avoid contact with other people’s headgear, combs, brushes, etc. -- shampoo hair often.

(2) Chemical control: treat with insecticidal shampoos, lotions, creams, or dusts -- area insecticidal control is useless.

(3) Mechanical control: remove nits & lice with a “nit comb” or by hand -- often practiced in some countries, but not particularly effective.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

Body Lice

(1) Cultural control: avoid contact with infested people, clothing, bedding; wash infested items in hot, soapy water -- boiling, dry heating, dry cleaning are also effective.

(2) Chemical control: treat infested items with insecticides -- area insecticidal control is useless.

(3) Mechanical control: remove nits & lice from clothing & bedding manually (not very effective).

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Pubic Lice

(1) Cultural control: avoid sexual & other body contact with infested people & their clothing -- wash clothing & bedding in hot water.

(2) Chemical control: treat with insecticidal shampoos, lotions, creams, or dusts -- area insecticidal control is useless.

(3) Mechanical control: removal of nits & lice from the affected areas manually -- not particularly effective.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

All Lice

With all forms of louse control, education of people on the most effective methods is particularly important.

It is equally important to educate people on what is not effective.

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Characteristics of Bedbugs

Adult bed bugs are 4-5 mm long.

Flat, oval shaped, brown, wingless insects.

Piercing-sucking mouthparts -- blood feeders.

Eyes are small.

Gradual metamorphosis.

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Biology of Bedbugs

Bed bugs are very successful hitchhikers, moving from an infested site to furniture, bedding, baggage, boxes, and clothing.

Although they typically feed on blood every five to ten days, bed bugs can be quite resilient; they are capable of surviving over a year without feeding.

When not feeding, bed bugs hide around the bed, in the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains, in drawer joints, in electrical receptacles and appliances, under loose wall paper and wall hangings.

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Biology of Bedbugs

When bed bugs bite, they inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant that prevents a person from feeling the bite.

The bite marks are similar to that of a mosquito or a flea - a slightly swollen and red area that may itch and be irritating.

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Medical Importance of Bedbugs

Although bed bugs are not known to transmit disease, they are a pest of significant public health importance.

Bed bugs cause a variety of negative physical health, mental health and economic consequences.

Many people have mild to severe allergic reaction to the bites, bites can also lead to secondary infections.

Bed bugs may also affect the mental health of people living in infested homes. Reported effects include anxiety, insomnia and systemic reactions.

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Bedbug control

Integrated techniques are best.

Inspecting infested areas, plus surrounding living spaces and eliminate bed bug habitats.

Wash and dry bedding and clothing at high temperatures to kill bed bugs.

Cleaning all items within a bed bug infested living area.

Several classes of chemicals are registered for use against bed bugs.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

Summary

Chacteristics

Life Cycle

Habits

Control Measures

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death

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