Oral Flea Preventive to Control Rickettsia typhi-Infected Fleas on Reservoir Opossums, Galveston, Texas, USA, 2023-2024.

ABSTRACT: Murine typhus, a fleaborne bacterial disease caused by Rickettsia typhi, has reemerged and spread in the United States. We tested spinosad, an oral flea preventive, in opossum flea reservoirs. Spinosad killed 98% of fleas infesting opossums. Oral preventives could control fleas in host species and curb murine typhus spread to humans.

SUBMITTER: Blanton LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12123924 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature