Submitted by the MVCAC VVBD Committee
Blanton LS, Villasante-Tezanos A. Oral Flea Preventive to Control Rickettsia typhi–Infected Fleas on Reservoir Opossums, Galveston, Texas, USA, 2023–2024.
Emerg Infect Dis. 2025;31(6):1193-1196. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3106.241817
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.
Note: This could require a variety of bait stations to work operationally, unless there is something that cats, rats and opossums prefer to eat.