Hypersensitivity to fleas was induced in flea-naive dogs by controlled challenge exposure to virgin fleas. By week 10 of the investigation, immediate (15 minute) and delayed (24–48 hours) responses could be elicited in the skin by flea bites. Histologically, the immediate response consisted of edema and eosinophils which sometimes overlapped with a delayed inflammatory response comprised of perivascular lymphocytes and fewer histiocytes. These inflammatory patterns correlated with type I or immediate, and type IV or cellular, allergic reactions. The combined immediate and delayed responses to fleas in the dog are as observed by other investigators in man and guinea pigs.
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