Knowledge and practices of dog and cat owners in Mainland Portugal regarding fleas, flea-borne pathogens, and their management.

Background: Fleas are the most common ectoparasites of dogs and cats worldwide, causing dermatological problems and transmitting pathogens, some of zoonotic concern.

Objective: To assess the knowledge and practices (KP) of companion animal owners in Mainland Portugal regarding fleas, flea-borne pathogens, and measures for their treatment and prevention.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted between March 2022 and March 2023 targeted dog and/or cat owners from the five Mainland Portuguese NUTS2 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) regions. Participants answered a self-administered sociodemographic and KP questionnaire. Individual KP scores were calculated based on predefined grades.

Results: The study included 550 participants: 212 exclusively dog owners, 158 exclusively cat owners, and 180 owners of both species. The median age was 40 years, and 69.9% were female. Veterinarians were the primary source of information about fleas and flea-borne pathogens. Over 10% of participants were unable to identify adult fleas' characteristics. Most participants (90.3%) identified the environment outdoors as the most common source of infestation, while 54.4% mentioned contact with other animals. While 81.9% recognised that fleas transmit pathogens, only 12.7% could name specific pathogens; the flea bite was the most identified route of transmission. Most participants (87.6%) were aware that fleas parasitising pets could also parasitise humans. The most common flea treatment schedule was every 3-4 months, primarily to prevent infestation, while cleaning and vacuuming house/animal resting places were the preferred control measures. Multivariate analysis revealed that younger participants (≤ 50 years, for fleas), females (for flea-borne pathogens), those with higher education, and residents in the NUTS2 Centro, Área Metropolitana de Lisboa (AML), or Algarve regions had above-median knowledge scores. Higher education, residence in NUTS2 Centro or AML, pet ownership of only cats or dogs, and higher knowledge scores were associated with improved practices.

Conclusions: Most pet owners were aware that fleas transmit pathogens and knew ways to prevent infestations. However, knowledge gaps remain in understanding flea biology and the specific routes of transmission of flea-borne pathogens, which may hinder effective prevention efforts. Veterinarians play a crucial role in educating owners about flea management and prevention of flea-borne infections, aiming at reducing transmission risks to both animals and humans.