A pair of captive adult giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) presented heavily infested with a flea species (Pulex simulans) commonly found on Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) in the central United States. In this case, the flea was demonstrated to have completed its entire life cycle with the anteaters as the host. A single treatment of topical imidacloprid, coupled with removal and replacement of infested bedding, was rapidly effective at controlling the infestation and no adverse effects of the drug were noted. Control of the anteater infestation also removed the flea infestation of aardvarks in the same building.
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1 September 2006
FLEA (PULEX SIMULANS) INFESTATION IN CAPTIVE GIANT ANTEATERS (MYRMECOPHAGA TRIDACTYLA)
Adrian G. Mutlow,
Michael W. Dryden,
Patricia A. Payne
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Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Vol. 37 • No. 3
September 2006
Vol. 37 • No. 3
September 2006
Aardvark
anteater
flea
imidacloprid
Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Pulex