Research overview: flea-borne pathogens of wild felids

Fleas transmit a range of pathogens to felids, including Bartonella species responsible for cat-scratch disease, hemotropic mycoplasmas that cause anemia, and the plague bacterium. This overview surveys the flea-borne disease burden of wild and domestic cats, the role of fleas in moving bacteria among hosts, and the zoonotic significance of agents like Bartonella. It examines surveys documenting these pathogens in wild felid populations, the interplay between flea ecology and infection prevalence, and the conditions under which infections cause clinical disease. The synthesis connects vector biology to felid and human health. It aims to give readers an appreciation of the overlooked diseases carried by a ubiquitous ectoparasite, illustrating how fleas link wild cats to a community of bacterial pathogens with consequences for both wildlife and people.