Probable Role of the Cat Flea, Ctenocephalides Felis, in Transmission of Murine Typhus

Abstract

Summary Typical murine typhus was obtained in male guinea pigs by inoculation of suspensions of Ctenocephalides felis, the cat flea. Negative findings were obtained with a suspension of flea eggs. At least five cases of typhus including one laboratory infection probably were acquired through the agency of cat fleas harbored by kittens carried away from a feed store.