title: Flea control failure? Myths and realities.
abstract: Why is it that, despite the proliferation of research on their biology and control, fleas remain such a burden for companion animals and their owners? This review highlights a range of reasons for persistence and apparent treatment failures. It argues that a sustainable approach will require integrated pest management based upon a detailed understanding of the flea life cycle, targeting not only adult fleas but also the immature stages in the environment, combining several modes of control and limiting the risk of chemoresistance. Individual characteristics of the pet and its environment need to be considered. Control of fleas can be achieved, over a timescale of several months, if basic rules are respected.
authors.affiliation: Merial, 29 Avenue Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France. Electronic address: lenaig.halos@merial.com.
authors.forename: Lénaïg
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Halos
authors.affiliation: Merial, 29 Avenue Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beugnet
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, István út 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.affiliation: Institut National Polytechnique (INP) - Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, 31076 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franc
authors.affiliation: Parasitology-Mycology-Dermatology Department, Dynamyc Research Group, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est (UPE), 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guillot
authors.affiliation: Institute of Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Leopoldstrasse 5, 80802 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfister
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UG, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002415:Cats; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000592:standards*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D058267:Flea Infestations / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D057805:Pets / Q000469:parasitology; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000502:physiology*; D017211:Treatment Failure
keywords: companion animals; flea control; integrated management; treatment failure