April 2, 2019

The Flea Project

Study on the evolutionary relationship between flea species/subspecies in the Ctenocephalides felis complex

Post doctoral research by Dr Luther van der Mescht from Stellenbosch University

The Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is widespread and common on domestic cats and dogs in South Africa. The flea species is thought to originate in Africa and the Near East because of their close association with domestic cats, which were domesticated from wild cats. The fleas have been recorded on other small mammalian predators and their prey.

Luther is studying the evolutionary relationships of these fleas, and FreeMe KZN are assisting him with his study by collecting fleas from the small mammalian predators that are admitted to FreeMe KZN.