Biological, seasonal and environmental factors associated with Pulex irritans infestation of dairy goats in Greece

dc.contributor.author	Christodoulopoulos, G	en
dc.contributor.author	Theodoropoulos, G	en
dc.contributor.author	Kominakis, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Theis, JH	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-06-06T06:47:01Z
dc.date.available	2014-06-06T06:47:01Z
dc.date.issued	2006	en
dc.identifier.issn	03044017	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.12.012	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://62.217.125.90/xmlui/handle/123456789/3340
dc.subject	Fleas	en
dc.subject	Goats	en
dc.subject	Greece	en
dc.subject	Pulex irritans	en
dc.subject.other	biological factor	en
dc.subject.other	article	en
dc.subject.other	Ctenocephalides	en
dc.subject.other	environmental factor	en
dc.subject.other	flea	en
dc.subject.other	goat	en
dc.subject.other	infestation	en
dc.subject.other	information processing	en
dc.subject.other	nonhuman	en
dc.subject.other	pulex irritans	en
dc.subject.other	questionnaire	en
dc.subject.other	seasonal variation	en
dc.subject.other	Age Factors	en
dc.subject.other	Animal Husbandry	en
dc.subject.other	Animals	en
dc.subject.other	Animals, Newborn	en
dc.subject.other	Breeding	en
dc.subject.other	Ectoparasitic Infestations	en
dc.subject.other	Female	en
dc.subject.other	Fleas	en
dc.subject.other	Goat Diseases	en
dc.subject.other	Goats	en
dc.subject.other	Greece	en
dc.subject.other	Male	en
dc.subject.other	Risk Factors	en
dc.subject.other	Seasons	en
dc.subject.other	Species Specificity	en
dc.subject.other	Animalia	en
dc.subject.other	Bos taurus	en
dc.subject.other	Canis familiaris	en
dc.subject.other	Capra	en
dc.subject.other	Capra hircus	en
dc.subject.other	Ctenocephalides	en
dc.subject.other	Ctenocephalides canis	en
dc.subject.other	Ctenocephalides felis	en
dc.subject.other	Ovis aries	en
dc.subject.other	Pulex irritans	en
dc.subject.other	Siphonaptera (fleas)	en
dc.title	Biological, seasonal and environmental factors associated with Pulex irritans infestation of dairy goats in Greece	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.12.012	en
heal.publicationDate	2006	en
heal.abstract	The objectives of the present study were to study the fauna of fleas infesting dairy goats in Greece, the spectrum of hosts each flea species infests, identify risk factors in the environment, and goat management practices that favour flea infestation of goats, and describe the seasonal variation of infestation in goats. For this purpose, a total of 64 herds, with a history of flea infestation in goats, were visited during June and July of 2002 for data collection on flea burdens, species of fleas on goats, and other farm or pet animal species in the farm. Also data were collected on herd characteristics and management along with the flea infestation status of the village where it was located through a questionnaire survey. Data on elevation and climatic characteristics of the villages where the herds were located were also used in the study. All fleas collected from goats, sheep, pigs, and cattle were identified as being Pulex irritans. All fleas collected from cats were identified as being Ctenocephalides felis. Dogs were infested either with P. irritans, C. canis, or C. felis, or with both C. canis and C. felis. Kids had a significantly higher flea burden than goats and the Skopelos breed had the highest flea burden of all breeds followed in diminishing order by the breeds Capra prisca, Saanen cross mix, and Alpine cross mix (p < 0.05). The gender of the animal had no significant effect on flea burden. Factors significantly affecting the flea burden of goats were duration of flea infestation in the herd, type of flea control, and manure imported prior to the appearance of fleas in the herd (p < 0.05). The flea burden of goats was highest during summer and lowest during winter (p < 0.01), with complete an absence of infestation in January and February. Finally, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was found between the average annual temperature of villages with flea infestation (15.59°C) and villages without flea infestation (17.14°C). It was concluded that P. irritans was a true infestation of goats in Greece. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.	en
heal.journalName	Veterinary Parasitology	en
dc.identifier.issue	1-2	en
dc.identifier.volume	137	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.12.012	en
dc.identifier.spage	137	en
dc.identifier.epage	143	en