GB2338395A

GB2338395A - Flea breeding apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2338395A
Application number: GB9812849A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leonard Moran; Catherine Caulfield; Martin Murphy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-10
Filing date: 1998-06-16
Publication date: 1999-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-16
Also published as: GB9812849D0; GB2338395B; IES80644B2; IES980445A2

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a flea egg collecting cage 10 for cats, from which flea eggs are collected for delivery to an incubator (not shown) in which the flea eggs are grown in a nutrient medium into adult fleas. These adult fleas are then separated from the nutrient medium in a separator (14 figs 6-8). The cage 10 generally comprises a tubular framework 20 covered with mesh panels 21 defining two separate compartments, an egg collecting compartment 22 and an interconnected feeding compartment 23 at one end of the egg collecting compartment. The floor 25 of the egg collecting compartment is of mesh. A collecting pan 26 is mounted directly beneath the floor and has an outlet 27 for discharge to a flea egg collecting container 28.

Description

2338395 "Flea Breeding Apparatus and System" This invention relates to an

apparatus and system for breeding fleas for experimental testing purposes.

According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus for breeding fleas comprising a flea egg collecting cage for housing a flea host animal, the cage having an egg collecting compartment and an interconnected feeding compartment, the egg collecting compartment having a floor with openings for through passage of flea eggs, a funnel mounted beneath the floor with an outlet for discharge to a flea egg collecting container, an incubator having means for regulating climatic conditions within the incubator to produce adult fleas from flea eggs, and a separator for separating adult fleas from a nutrient media in which the adult fleas are grown in the incubator.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cage has a mesh floor in the egg collecting compartment and the feeding compartment has a feeder, a drinker and a litter box.

In another embodiment, the drinker comprises a housing having a base with an upstanding side wall on the base and a top at an upper end of the side wall, a shallow water reservoir above the base, and a head access opening in the side wall through which an animal can insert it's head to drink from the reservoir.

in a further embodiment, the drinker has a water overflow pipe with an inlet mounted a preset distance above the base to define a maximum water depth in the reservoir.

In another embodiment, the drinker has a water inlet valve for connection to a water supply for filling the 2 reservoir, the water inlet valve operable by means of a float which floats in the reservoir.

In another embodiment, the separator comprises an elongate upright housing having an upper inlet end and a lower outlet end, a funnel mounted at the outlet end and means for supporting a media dish at the lower end of the housing.

Preferably, a mesh shelf is mounted at the lower end of the housing.

1 j 1 1 In another aspect, the invention provides a flea breeding system comprising the steps:- collecting flea eggs from a host animal in a flea egg collecting cage, the cage having a mesh base with a funnel mounted beneath the base having an outlet for discharge to a collecting jar, such that eggs falling from the host animal are directed into the collecting jar, delivering the f lea eggs into a media dish with a food supply, incubating the flea eggs at a desired temperature and humidity for a preset time period to produce adult f leas, delivering the media dish with adult fleas to a separator, the separator comprising an elongate upright housing having a funnel at a lower end of the housing with an outlet for discharging to a closed flea collecting container, supporting the media dish at the lower end of the housing for collecting fleas jumping from the media dish in the collecting container.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a flea breeding apparatus and system according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a breeding cage forming portion of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the breeding cage; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of portion of the breeding cage; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view of a drinker mounted in the cage; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a separator forming portion of the apparatus; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevational view of the separator; and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view showing portion of the separator.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a flea breeding apparatus and system according to the invention.

The apparatus comprises a flea egg collecting cage 10 from which flea eggs are collected for delivery to an incubator 12 in which the flea eggs are grown in a nutrient medium into adult fleas. These adult fleas are then separated from the nutrient medium in a separator 14. Downstream of the separator 14, the f leas are delivered to a counting station 16 at which pre-desired numbers of fleas are counted into separate containers for subsequent delivery to testing stations 18.

is The flea egg collecting cage 10 is illustrated in Pigs. 2 to 5. The cage 10 generally comprises a tubular framework 20 covered with mesh panels 21 defining two separate compartments, namely, an egg collecting compartment 22 and an interconnected feeding compartment 23 at one end of the egg collecting compartment 22. An access door 24 is provided in a side wall of the egg collecting compartment 22. It will be noted that a floor 25 of the egg collecting compartment 22 is of mesh. A collecting pan or funnel 26 is mounted directly beneath the floor 25 and has an outlet 27 for discharge to a flea egg collecting container 28.

The feeding compartment 23 has a hinged cover 30 for easy access. Mounted within the feeding compartment 23 is an automatic drinker 32, a feeder 33 and a litter box 34. It will be noted that the feeding compartment 23 is separate from the egg collecting compartment 22 so that faeces, 25 food particles or water cannot fall into the funnel and contaminate the collecting jar 28 killing the flea eggs.

The drinker 32 comprises a housing having a base 36 with an upstanding side wall 37 and a top 38. A shallow water reservoir 39 is contained above the base 36 and a head access opening 40 in the side wall 37 allows an animal insert its head to drink from the reservoir 39. A water overflow pipe 42 has an inlet 43 a preset distance above the base 36 to define a maximum water depth in the reservoir 39. In use, an animal can insert its head through the opening 40 to drink at the reservoir 39 thus preventing spillage. A water inlet valve 45 is connected to a water supply for filling the reservoir 39. The water inlet valve 45 is operable by means of a float 46 to maintain water in the reservoir 39.

In use, a host animal, such as a cat, is housed within the cage 10 and can feed and drink within the feeding compartment 23 without dropping food particles, waste materials or water into the funnel 26. As the animal exercises within the egg collecting compartment 22, flea eggs will fall from the coat of the animal to be collected in the funnel 26 and delivered into the collecting jar 28.

The flea eggs are then delivered into a dish containing a nutrient media which is then incubated in the incubator 12 for a period of about 16 or 17 days, controlling the temperature and humidity appropriately until adult fleas are developed from the eggs.

The adult fleas then need to be separated from the nutrient media. The separator 14 allows this to be effected in a simple and efficient manner. The separator 14 comprises an elongate upright cylindrical housing 50 having an upper inlet end 51 and a lower outlet end 52. A funnel 53 is mounted at the outlet end 52. At the lower end 52 of the housing 50, a mesh shelf 55 is provided for supporting dishes 56 of the nutrient media containing the fleas. Thus, when fleas jump from the nutrient media, they will fall through the mesh 55 and are delivered via the funnel 53 into a sealed container 58. The container has a plastics lid 59 with an opening for through passage of a lower end of the funnel 53.

The container 58 is then delivered, as required, to the counting station 16. At the counting station 16, a shot of carbon dioxide gas is delivered into the container 58 to anaesthetize the fleas for 30-60 seconds. The fleas are then turned out onto a table where they can be picked up by a vacuum and counted into jars for delivery to the testing stations 18.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides apparatus and a system for the efficient breedingof fleas.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

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Claims

1 Apparatus for breeding fleas comprising a flea egg collecting cage for housing a flea host animal, the cage having an egg collecting compartment and an interconnected feeding compartment,' the egg collecting compartment having a floor with openings for through passage of flea eggs, a funnel mounted beneath the floor with an outlet for discharge to a flea egg collecting container, an incubator having means for regulating climatic conditions within the incubator to produce adult fleas from flea eggs, and a separator for separating adult fleas from a nutrient media in which the adult fleas are grown in the incubator.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cage has a mesh floor in the egg collecting compartment and the feeding compartment has a feeder, a drinker and a litter box.

3.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the drinker comprises a housing having a base with an upstanding side wall on the base and a top at an upper end of the side wall, a shallow water reservoir above the base, and a head access opening in the side wall through which an animal can insert it's head to drink from the reservoir.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the drinker has a water overflow pipe with an inlet mounted a preset distance above the base to define a maximum water depth in the reservoir.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the drinker has a water inlet valve for connection to 8 - a water supply for filling the reservoir, the water inlet valve operable by means of a float which floats in the reservoir.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the separator comprises an elongate upright housing having an upper inlet end and a lower outlet end, a funnel mounted at the outlet end and means for supporting a media dish at the lower end of the housing.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mesh shelf is mounted at the lower end of the housing.

8. A flea breeding system comprising the steps:- collecting flea eggs from a host animal in a flea egg collecting cage, the cage having a mesh base with a funnel mounted beneath the base having an outlet for discharge to a collecting jar, such that eggs falling from the host animal are directed into the collecting jar, delivering the flea eggs into a media dish with a food supply, incubating the flea eggs at a desired temperature and humidity for a preset time period to produce adult fleas, delivering the media dish with adult fleas to a separator, the separator comprising an elongate upright housing having a funnel at a lower end of the housing with an outlet for discharging to a closed flea collecting container, supporting the media dish at the lower end of the housing for collecting fleas jumping from the media dish in the collecting container.

9. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

10. A system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.