Journal of Entomological Science (2003) 38, 234-239

Jimmy Wedincamp Jr. and Lane D. Foil (2003)
Rickettsia felis infection in the cat flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)
Journal of Entomological Science 38 (2), 234-239
Abstract: We compared fecundity and eclosion rates of two cat flea Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché) lines, one infected with Rickettsia felis and the other not infected. Egg and feces production were compared between the two flea lines fed on cats; statistical differences were found in feces production (P= 0.0057) but not egg production (P= 0.1081). Cross-mating studies also were performed; no reduction in fecundity was found when males infected with R. felis were mated with uninfected females. Additionally, the infected flea line had a statistically higher eclosion rate (P = 0.0030) than the non-infected flea line.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Jimmy Wedincamp, Lane D. Foil

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ctenocephalides felis