Yes. Fleas are a VERY REAL HEALTH HAZARD and are vectors of many diseases. Among these are BUBONIC PLAGUE, SALMONELLA, TAPEWORM, TYPHUS and other FEVERS.

Arthropods play a significant role as vectors of many pathogenic microorganisms. Mosquito-borne, tick-borne and flea-borne diseases occur in Texas. Mosquito-borne diseases are encephalitides caused by West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus, western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, and California encephalitis virus; Dengue fever; malaria; and Yellow fever.

Whenever your pet snaps at a flea and swallows it, it has exposed itself to Dipylidium caninum, a tapeworm that attaches to the small intestine where it sucks up nutrients. In a few weeks, you’ll find dried, tan, rice-like tapeworm segments attached to the pet’s rectum or in the feces. These tapeworm segments carry eggs and can eventually infect humans and other pets. One more reason to prevent fleas.

Mosquitoes are known to have carried diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dog heartworm, West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis. Only in the last century has it been known that mosquitoes are capable of spreading disease. The diseases are often viruses that are picked up by the mosquito when it feeds on an infected host. When the mosquito feeds on another host, it can then spread the disease.

Any insect that feeds on blood can transmit disease organisms from human to human, but mosquitoes are the most formidable transmitters of disease in the animal kingdom. Mosquito-borne diseases are caused by human parasites that enters their blood stream. The female mosquito picks up the parasite when she sucks blood to develop her eggs. The parasites complete a portion of their own life cycles in the mosquito, and either multiply, change in form inside the mosquito, or do both.

Yes, moles rarely but sometimes can be carriers of rabies. Rabies, a virus, progressively paralyzes and can kill any mammal, including humans. Rabies is generally contracted through contact with an infected mole through biting. Though humans should avoid contact with any mole, if a mole seems especially fearless around humans, it could be infected. Call United Wildlife mole control immediately for professional mole removal.

These "vectors" have been shown to carry a variety of disease-causing organisms. Some of these organisms are the cause of Salmonellosis, Shigellosis, Leptrospirosis, and a variety of other food-borne illnesses. The problem with rodent bait in a food facility is that rodents may carry the poisonous bait in their mouths and drop the bait throughout the facility, contaminating food, food contact surfaces, and food related items.

Feral goats carry many parasites such as cestodes, nematodes and protozoans. The degree of cross-infection between feral goats and stock is not known but thought to be fairly low except in well-watered pastures where stocking rates are high. However, feral goats are usually not common in these areas. Feral goats can also carry a wide range of bacterial and viral diseases such as the bacterium that cause melioidosis.

Apart from the FAD (Allergic dermatitis), which is an allergy to flea saliva and/or faeces, there are a number of other diseases transmitted by the flea.The flea is an intermediary host of Dipylidium Caninum, known as Tapeworm, which is a cat’s and dog’s intestine worm (cestode). The flea larvae ingests the eggs of this cestode, which matures into worm-larvae. The worm-larvae is the infecting stage hosted by the adult flea.

Geese do carry diseases, including swimmer’s itch, histoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis, and giardia. These goose illnesses are spread by contact with goose poop, nest materials and dead geese. When geese live in your pond, swimming pool or nearby lake, parasites that live on the geese will infest the water and climb aboard swimmers, giving them swimmer’s itch. The parasite larvae crawl onto the skin and burrow under it, which leads to a very severe, itchy red rash.

Wild armadillos have been known to be infected with the bacterium that causes leprosy (Hansen's disease). The only cases of transmission from armadillos to humans have occurred in rare incidents in which people ate undercooked armadillo meat.

The main disease problem in foxes is Mange, this cannot be transmitted to humans or cats. In theory fox mange could be caught by dog, but in practice it doesn't. The UK has been completely rabies free for many years and there are well prepared contingency plans for deal with any possible outbreak.

Spray the yard, spray and flea-bomb the house, flea bathe the cat or dog and then use either powders/sprays or one of the new spot-on products (Advantage or Frontline). The powders/sprays need daily application, while the spot-on products are applied monthly. It may take a few months to see good results.

Yes. We get both cat and dog fleas, which are different. Use pyrethrins in a good program of life-cycle control just as for dogs or cats. Treat the house in preference to putting potentially dangerous chemicals directly on me!

Lyme disease – affects humans as well as dogs and rarely cats. In dogs it may cause fever, lethargy, arthritis and occasionally skin disease. Anaplasmosis – rarely diagnosed in the UK but symptoms include fever, reluctance to move and general malaise.Europe Ehrlichiosis – a disease that’s seen in the Mediterranean, signs range from mild fever with loss of appetite to severe illness with anaemia and blood clotting.