Arthropods Flashcards
How do you stop an arthropod from growing
Use an insect growth regulator which stops the production of chitin
What do arthropods cause
Pathology and diseases such as anemia, hypersensitivity reactions
Describe the pathogenic potential of arthropods
They are parasites that cause disease, they are intermediate host for cestodes nematodes and trematodes. they are vectors of bacteria or viruses, they produce venom or toxins and harass production animals
What arthropods produce venom or toxins
Scorpions, spiders, Ticks
When arthropods harass production animals what happens
Cause lack of eating and sleep, loss of weight and production decreases, cause fear in horses and injuries
Describe an arthropods ability to perforate skin
Hypodermis species a.k.a. the warble fly or cattle grub. Cause a severe reduction or complete loss of the value of leather
What is the kingdom of the arthropod
Animalia
What are the two subphyla’s for arthropods
Mandibulata and chelocerata
Describe mandibulata
Have jaws and chew
Describe the chelocerata
Have a pincer mouth that doesn’t grind
Which animals are part of the mandibulata class of arthropods
Crustaceans
Myriopodans: millipedes, centipedes
Insects:
Cockroaches, beetles, moths, butterflies, ants bees and wasps, true bugs, lice flies and fleas
What are crustaceans considered
Ectoparasites of fish and amphibians. Intermediate host for some Helminths.
Describe the anatomy of arthropods
Segmented body, invertebrate having an exoskeleton, jointed appendages
What is a crayfish and intermediate host for
Lungworm Paragonimus Kellicotti.
What is the copepod an intermediate host for
Cotyloda the pseudotapeworm, or diphyllo bacterium
What are crustaceans also the intermediate host for
Dracunculus insignis (the guinea worm in dogs)
Describe insects
Three-part body, three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes and one pair of antenna
Describe Cimex Lectularis (bedbug)
Periodic parasite of humans, rabbits, poultry and chickens. Nocturnal produce a distinctive odor from their stink gland. Eggs are laid in the cracks and crevices and emerge in 6 to 10 days to feed on blood for 2 to 5 minutes.
Can bedbugs infect cats or dogs
No
What do lice cause
Pediculosis
What are the two orders of lice
Mallophaga (chewing/biting)
Anoplura (sucking)
Describe the anatomy of lice in general
All components of insects but wingless, dorsoventrally flattened
Describe the anatomy of the Mallophaga lice
Usually smaller than unemployed. Yellow, large rounded head that is wider than the widest part of the thorax
Describe the anatomy of the anoplura lice
Larger than mellophaga, red to gray color. Smaller head that is more narrow than the widest part of the thorax.
What is the host for the mallophaga lice
Mammals and birds
What is the method of transmission for the Mallophaga lice
Animal to animal. Adults are directly transmitted or go phoresis on the fly. Other life stages are transmitted by fomites
What do Mallophaga lice feed on
Skin, debris, hair. Plus or minus blood and cause dermatitis.
What is the host for the Anoplura lice
Domestic animals: not cats OR birds.
How is the Anoplura lice transmitted
From animal to animal. Adults go directly and other stages go on fomites
What does the anoplura lice feed on
Blood and causes anemia
What is pediculus humanus capitis
Non disease carrying head lice only found on humans
What is pediculus humanus humanus corporis
Disease carrying body lice
What is phthirus pubis
Crab or pubic lice
What are three stages of the anopluran or mallophagian lice life cycle
The nit
The nymph (has 3 nymphal stages)
Adult
Describe the nit stage of lice development
Cements to hair or feather shaft. Hatches in 5-14 days
Describe the nymph stage of the lice life cycle
Has 3 nymphal stages (2-3 weeks)
Describe the adult stage of the lice life cycle
Similar in appearance to nymphal stage but larger and have functional reproductive organs that allow them to mate and lay eggs
What does a diptera insect have
Two wings
What do adult flies feed on
Blood, tears saliva and mucus.
What are flies considered
Periodic parasites
Where are there larva of flies laid
In the sub cutaneous tissues or internal organs of animals
Describe the female only flies that feed on blood
Simulium (black fly)
Culicoides (sand flies) ** host for onchocerca cervicalis in equines.
Culex (mosquito)
Describe the culex mosquito
Can cause anemia. Lay eggs in water. Transmit heartworm
What do other Mosquitos besides the culex transmit
Malaria, w. Bancrofti, trypanosoma
Describe the male and female flies that feed on blood
The glossina fly (tst tse fly) that transmits trypanosoma
What are the flies that feed on tears saliva and mucus
Musca domestica (house fly) Musca automnalis (face fly) Sarcophaga (flesh fly)
Describe the house fly
Made to spread pathogens. Facultative myiasis which is maggots
Describe the face fly
Spread pinkeye in cattle
Describe the flesh fly
Facultative myiasis. Made to spread pathogens
What is the cuterebra species or (warbles)
In rodent species mostly, occasionally in cat or dog in head or neck. Adults lay eggs at entrances of rodent Burroughs
How do cats and dogs get infected with warbles
Sniff rabbit holes
Warbles are usually cutaneous but are also known for its aberrant migration sites into the
Cranial volt and nose
What color is L2 of the warbles
White
What color is L3of the warbles
Black is covered in spines
Describe ctenocephalides canis/felis
High economic importance in veterinary medicine. Prolific and easy to transplant. Host to host contact or from environment
Describe the adult flea
Brown, laterally flattened to allow for slithering through hairs. Piercing mouth part that acts like a siphon. Posterior leg is much bigger then the anterior pairs. Feed on blood and leave dried blood as dirt.
Describe the first flea stage
Eggs. Pearly white do not stick to host and instead fall on the ground.
Describe the larva flea stage
Maggot- like and covered in small hairs. Feed on flea dirt, organic debris, shell or other flea larva. Do not develop in sunlight and therefore prefer dark places such as the edge of the walls
Describe the pupae stage of the flea
Cocoons found in soil, and vegetation, in carpets, under furniture, on animal bedding. Prevents the pupa from desiccating and is very sticky. Lasts months to years and the change in vibration and CO2 reactivates them
What is the pathology from fleas
They are an annoyance, they cause pruritis, they cause flea allergic dermatitis, cause iron deficiency anemia and death, can transmit many pathogens
In which animals can fleas cause iron deficiency anemia and death
Young animals, dogs cats goats cattle sheep
What pathogens can fleas transmit
Dipylidium caninum (Cestoda), Acanthochocheilonema reconditum
What Microorganisms can fleas transmit
Hemoplasma (mycoplasma), yersinia pestis (plague), francisella tularensis (tularemia)
How do you do a diagnosis of fleas
Identification of adult or identification of flea dirt
How long is the treatment or elimination of fleas
Minimum three months. Can be long in cases of moderate to severe infestations
How do you eliminate fleas
Eliminate the fleas on the pet, eliminate existing environmental infestation, prevent subsequent reinfestation
How do you mechanically remove fleas
Flea comb, vacuuming of rugs carpets bedding and couches. Clean all upholstery
What are some flea adulticides
Frontline plus, advantage multi, advantix, capstar, revolution, trifexis bravecto
What is special about TriFlex us
A lot of reported deaths within the hour of application
What are some insect growth regulator’s
Program, Sentinel, frontline plus, advantage two, revolution
What are the 4 to 5 developmental stages of ticks
Egg, larva, nymph, adult
What are the two types of mites
Sarcoptiform and non sarcoptiform
Describe sarcoptiform mites
Cause Severe dermatologic problems and intense pruritis. Tiny oval to round bodies
what are the sarcoptidae form of the sarcoptiform mites
Burrow or tunnel in epidermis. Diagnose by skin scraping
What is the psoroptidae form of the scarcoptiform mites
On the surface of the skin or in the ear canal
Describe the sarcoptidae mites
Male and female’s breed on the surface of the skin. Female burrows into the skin and deposits 40 to 50 eggs then dies. 3 to 10 days after depositing, the larva emerge exit the tunnels molt into nymphs and become adults in 12 to 17 days.
Who does the sarcoptes scabiei species affect
Affects pigs, humans, cats, dogs.
Describe sarcoptes scabiei in dogs
Can be zoonotic, have suckers on their legs, contagious on contact. Some dogs are carriers an asymptomatic
How do you diagnose Sarcoptes scabies in dogs
Deep skin scrapings
How do you treat Sarcoptes scabies in dogs
Moxidectin, imidacloprid, ivermectin
What is notoedres Cati
Feline mange or scabies. From direct contact
How do you diagnose notoedres cati
Deep skin scraping
How do you treat Notoedres Cati
Selemectin, moxidectin/imidacloprid and ivermectin 
Where do psoroptidae mites live on the body
Reside on the surface of the skin or in the ear canal
How long is the lifecycle for psoroptidae mites
10 to 18 days
Mites can live off the host for 2 to 3 weeks
What is otodectes cynotis
The ear mite.
Describe how otodectes cynotis is transmitted
Direct contact or indirect; from mites or living outside.
What does otodectes cynotis cause
A very pruritic pedal pinna response
How do you diagnose otodectes cynotis
Visualization and swam in mineral oil.
What is a pedal pinna response
Where you touch the ear and the leg shakes
What do otodectes cynotis look like in the ear
White or translucent
What shape are non sarcoptiform mites
Cigar shaped
What is Demodex
Many species and humans, Demodectic mange
Non-pathogenic normal fauna of skin
How is demodex transmitted
Mom to baby.
Where is demodex found
In hair follicles and sebaceous glands.
What happens with demodex in young immunodeficient animals
Causes the demodicosis;is localized or generalized and is an Alopecic region
how do you diagnose demodex
Clip fur or squeeze skin to express mites. Continue until capillary bleeding occurs. Place it on slide with mineral oil. Scrape with scalpel to see if it is generalized.
What is trombicula
Chiggers (thrombiculosis)
Orange crusty dermatosis.
Difficult to diagnose because it doesn’t stay long on the animal
What are Cheyletiella parasitovax
Walking dandruff visible to the naked eye. Can be zoonotic but self limiting.
How do you diagnose cheyletiella parasitovax
visualization of bite marks or scotch tape
Describe the anatomy of ticks
Cheilicerae (2 pincers)
Hypostome (straw) - penetrating, sucking mouthpiece. Anchors them in place.
What do ixodid ticks have that covers all or parts of their body.
A chitin armor (shield)
What do argasid ticks have
No chitin armor.
Describe the pathology of a tick
Blood feeding activity. Saliva can be toxic and cause tick paralysis. Ticks are vectors of parasites, bacteria, viruses, rickettsia and organisms
Which tick born diseases does the 4DX test diagnose
Anaplasmosis, borrelia, erlichia
What is special about the tick lifecycle
Requires three hosts until it becomes an adult that can lay eggs
What are some tick facts
It can feed on several different hosts and transmit limes disease. It can live 2 to 3 years without feeding but a female needs blood before fertilization and egg laying.
How long does disease transmission require
24-48hr after attachment. They need to suck up and regurgitate.
What tick prevention drugs are used on cats
Etofenprox, fipronil (frontline), and flumethrin
What is approved for use in dogs
Advantix products, frontline, seresto(8 month collar for cats and dogs) , bravecto.
What is the otobius megnini
Spinose ear tick that lives in the ear canal
What does the Ixodes scapularis (ca, eq, human, deer) transmit
Lyme (borrelia burgdorferi), tularemia, babesia microti and ehrlichia (humans)
What does the rhipicephalus sanguineus tick do
Invades homes and kennels and transmits ehrlichia canis.
Which ticks are part of the ixodid (hard) tick category
Dermacentor variabilis (ca, hu): dog tick that causes tick paralysis. RMSF vector. Dermacentor andersoni (ca, hu): Rocky Mountain wood tick. Primary RMSF vector. Amblyoma americanum (mammals): lone star tick. vector of tularemia and RMSF
