Species of flea (Siphonaptera) infesting pets and hedgehogs in Germany

The species of flea infesting pets and hedgehogs in Germany were investigat ed through a survey of small animal practitioners throughout the country wh o were asked to collect specimens at their veterinary practices. A total of 625 veterinarians/veterinary practices responded and provided 2445 intact and identifiable flea specimens. These fleas originated from 294 dogs (795 fleas), 334 cats (1152 fleas), 76 hedgehogs (481 fleas), five domestic rabb its (10 fleas), one golden hamster (four fleas) and one ferret (three fleas ). Dogs were found to be infested with Archaeopsylla erinacei, Chaetopsylla globiceps, Ctenocephalides canis, Ctenocephalides felis, Hystrichopsylla t alpae, Nosopsyllus fasciatus, Paraceras melis and Pulex irritans. From cats , Archaeapsylla erinacei, Ceratophyllus gallinae, Ceratophyllus garei, Cten ocephalides felis, Ctenophthalmus assimilis, Hystrichopsylla talpae, Monops yllus sciurorum, Nosopsyllus fasciatus, Spilopsllus cumiculi and Typhlocera s poppei were collected. In both dogs and cats the most prevalent species w ere Ctenocephalides felis (78.9% and 91.6%, respectively) and Archaeopsylla erinacei (21.1% and 12.6%, respectively) followed by Ctenocephalides canis in dogs (5.8%) and Hystrichopsylla talpae in cats (1.2%). The fleas isolat ed from rabbits were Ctenocephalides felix, Hystrichopsylla talpae and Spil opsyllus cuniculi. Nosopsyllus fasciatus and Ctenocephalides felis were rec overed from the garden hamster and the ferret, respectively. The hedgehogs were found to be infested with Archaeopsylla erinacei, Ceratophyllus gallin ae and Ctenocephalides felis.