Cat fleas in Tennessee are a medical concern because they transmit which parasite?

• A. heartworm
• B. hookworm
• C. roundworm
• D. dog tapeworm

Answer: (D)

The important concept is that fleas can act as an intermediate host for a tapeworm that infects cats and dogs. Cat fleas carry the larval stage of Dipylidium caninum, the parasite commonly called the dog tapeworm. When a cat (or dog) grooms and swallows an infected flea, the tapeworm develops in the intestine and starts producing segments that pass in the stool. That makes flea infestation a direct route for roundworm-like intestinal parasites to reach pets.

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes, not fleas, so fleas aren’t involved in that transmission. Hookworms and roundworms have different life cycles that don’t depend on fleas. So the parasite transmitted by cat fleas that’s a medical concern is the dog tapeworm.