Flea-borne infections

Background

There are no fleas that are exclusive to humans
The most common fleas that humans are exposed to are Pulex irritans (human flea), Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea), Ctenocephalides canis (dog flea), Xenopsylla cheopis (Oriental rat flea), Nosopsyllus fasciatus (northern rat flea), Echidnophaga gallinacea (sticktight flea), and Tunga penetrants (sand flea or jigger)

Organism	Vector	Disease(s)	Distribution
Bartonella henselae	cat scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, endocarditis	Ctenocephalides felis	Worldwide
Rickettsia felis	flea-borne spotted fever	Ctenocephalides canis
Rickettsia typhi	murine typhus	Xenopsylla cheopis and others
Tunga penetrants	tungiasis	Tunga penetrants
Yersinia pestis	plague	numerous rodent fleas