Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Severe flea infestation causing anemia in dairy calves
By Dryden, M W et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1993·Department of Pathology and Microbiology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Severe flea infestation in dairy calves.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of Holstein dairy calves was found to have a severe flea infestation, with hundreds of fleas on each calf and thousands in their barn. Many of the calves were underweight, and blood tests showed that most were anemic due to the fleas. To tackle the problem, the farm implemented a control program that included treating the calves and barn with insecticides, removing bedding, and treating or trapping the cats living in the area. After nine weeks of this program, the fleas were completely gone from both the calves and the barn.
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Abstract
An investigation was conducted of a severe flea infestation in Holstein dairy calves. Inspection of the dairy revealed hundreds of cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis, on 23 calves, and thousands of fleas in the barn where the calves were housed. During the investigation, > 92,000 fleas were collected from the barn. The barn also was inhabited by 30 to 35 flea-infested domesticated and feral cats. Several calves appeared emaciated, and analysis of blood samples from 10 calves revealed that 8 were anemic. A control program was initiated, consisting of insecticide and insect-growth regulator treatment of calves and premises, along with removal of straw bedding from the barn. In addition, domesticated cats were to be treated and feral cats were to be removed by live trapping. Nine weeks after a complete control program was initiated, fleas were not evident on calves or in the barn.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8276708/