RT Journal Article
T1 Modelling the current distribution and predicted spread of the flea species Ctenocephalides felis infesting outdoor dogs in Spain
A1 Gálvez Esteban, Rosa María
A1 Musella, Vicenzo
A1 Descalzo, Miguel Ángel
A1 Montoya Matute, Ana
A1 Checa Herráiz, Rocío
A1 Marino, Valentina
A1 Martín, Oihane
A1 Cringoli, Giuseppe
A1 Rinaldi, Laura
A1 Miró Corrales, Guadalupe
AB Background: The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, is the most prevalent flea species detected on dogs and cats in Europe and other world regions. The status of flea infestation today is an evident public health concern because of their cosmopolitan distribution and the flea-borne diseases transmission. This study determines the spatial distribution of the cat flea C. felis infesting dogs in Spain. Using geospatial tools, models were constructed based on entomological data collected from dogs during the period 2013–2015. Bioclimatic zones, covering broad climate and vegetation ranges, were surveyed in relation to their size.Results: The models builded were obtained by negative binomial regression of several environmental variables to show impacts on C. felis infestation prevalence: land cover, bioclimatic zone, mean summer and autumn temperature, mean summer rainfall, distance to urban settlement and normalized difference vegetation index. In the face of climate change, we also simulated the future distributions of C. felis for the global climate model (GCM) “GFDL-CM3” and for the representative concentration pathway RCP45, which predicts their spread in the country.Conclusions: Predictive models for current climate conditions indicated the widespread distribution of C. felis throughout Spain, mainly across the central northernmost zone of the mainland. Under predicted conditions of climate change, the risk of spread was slightly greater, especially in the north and central peninsula, than for the current situation. The data provided will be useful for local veterinarians to design effective strategies against flea infestation and the pathogens transmitted by these arthropods.
PB BioMed Central
SN 1756-3305
YR 2017
FD 2017
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/110213
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/110213
LA eng
NO Gálvez, R., Musella, V., Descalzo, M.A. et al. Modelling the current distribution and predicted spread of the flea species Ctenocephalides felis infesting outdoor dogs in Spain. Parasites Vectors 10, 428 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2357-4
NO MSD Animal Health SL
DS Docta Complutense
RD 27 feb 2026