Flea infestations in companion animals: Challenges in heterogeneous subtropical environments

= 59.46%), which was also more common in rural areas. Risk factors for C. f. felis presence in dogs included young age, lack of antiparasitic treatment, peridomestic fumigation, bare soil and lower humidity and temperature four weeks prior to sampling (w-4). In cats, infestation was associated with young age, the presence of infested dogs in the same household, and higher vegetation coverage. In both hosts, T. penetrans infestation was positively associated with no antiparasitic treatment, lower humidity in w-3, and higher humidity in w-1 and higher temperature in w-2. The findings indicate that the factors influencing the presence, prevalence and abundance of C. f. felis and T. penetrans may differ according to host, socio-environmental, climatic and soil conditions in each locality. The establishment of institutional policies is imperative to effectively manage flea parasitosis, particularly in regions of socio-environmental heterogeneity.