Fleas are one of the most interesting and fascinating taxa of ectoparasites. All species in this
relatively small order are obligatory haematophagous (blood-feeding) parasites of higher …

Summary 1 Sex differences in levels of parasite infection are a common rule in a wide range
of mammals, with males usually more susceptible than females. Sex‐specific exposure to …

Host resources can drive the optimal parasite exploitation strategy by offering a good or a
poor environment to pathogens. Hosts living in resource‐rich habitats might offer a …

Environmental stress has been suggested to increase host susceptibility to infections and
reduce host ability to resist parasite growth and reproduction, thus benefiting parasites. This …

Summary 1 Parasites might preferentially feed on hosts in good nutritional condition as such
hosts provide better resources for the parasites' own growth, survival and reproduction …

Numerous host qualities can modulate parasite fitness, and among these, host nutritive
resources and immunity are of prime importance. Indeed, parasite fitness increases with the …

The distribution of parasites among individual hosts is characterised by high variability that
is believed to be a result of variations in host traits. To find general patterns of host traits …

Background Fleas frequently infest small mammals and play important vectoring roles in the
epidemiology of (re) emerging zoonotic disease. Rodent outbreaks in intensified agro …

Parasite transmission is the ability of pathogens to move between hosts. As a key
component of the interaction between hosts and parasites, it has crucial implications for the …

Abstract Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) are hematophagous ectoparasites that can reduce
the fitness of vertebrate hosts. Laboratory populations of fleas decline under dry conditions …