The importance of year-round flea and roundworm prevention in lockdown and beyond

Whether year-round preventative routine deworming regimens for Toxocara spp. (Figure 1) in cats and dogs should be used to reduce zoonotic risk, continues to be a subject of much debate. The European Scientific Council for Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) UK & Ireland promotes a risk-based approach to parasite prevention and some parasites, such as ticks, tapeworm and lungworm, lend themselves well to this approach. This, however, is not the case for fleas. In 2018, a UK-wide survey found that 28% of cats and 14% of dogs were infested with fleas (Abdullah et al, 2019). These high percentages have animal health implications, with flea allergic dermatitis a common cause of skin disease in cats and dogs, as well as fleas being a cause of human irritation and revulsion. Fleas also have the potential to transmit zoonotic vector-borne pathogens (Figure 2). The same study found approximately 5.7% and 11% of these infestations were positive for zoonotic Rickettsia felis and Bartonella spp. respectively. That means that potentially up to 400 000 dogs and cats in the UK could be carrying fleas positive for Bartonella spp. The elderly and immune suppressed are at particular risk from these zoonoses and are more likely to spend time in their homes with these infestations.