Blood Parasites

Question 1

Confused With

Answer 1

Stain Precipitate
* clump / cluster of material

Drying Artifact
* appear refractile and glimmery

Question 2

Rickettsial Organisms

Answer 2

• Ehrlichia & Anaplasmosis
• Transmitted by ticks
• 2-3 days of feeding to transmit

Question 3

Rickettsial Organisms
Reactions

Answer 3

• Neutropenia
• Anemia
• Thrombocytopenia
• Chronic Infestation: lymphocytosis
• Increased TP

Question 4

Rickettsial Organisms
Identification

Answer 4

• Present in small numbers in circulation
• Buffy coat smears sometimes helpful
• Best identified with use of immunologic diagnosis

Question 5

Ehrlichia canis

Answer 5

Affects Monocytes and Neutrophils in dogs
* look for morulae (small cluster in cytoplasm)

Question 6

Answer 6

Morulae inside neutrophil
* see with either Ehrlichia canis or Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Question 7

Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Answer 7

Affects Neutrophils and Eosinophils in dogs
* look for morulae (small cluster in cytoplasm)

Question 8

Anaplasma platys

Answer 8

Affects platelets of dogs
* challenging to see on slide
* morulae inside platelet - don’t confuse with granules

Question 9

Answer 9

Anaplasma platys

Question 10

Anaplasma marginale

Answer 10

Affects RBCs of cattle
* distinguish from HJB
* tend to be along margin of cell

Question 11

Answer 11

Anaplasma marginale

Question 12

Babesia canis

Answer 12

Affects RBC of dogs
* look for piroplasm inside cell: teardrop shaped organisms, bluer, often in pairs
* easiest to find along feathered edge

Question 13

Answer 13

Babesia canis

Question 14

Mycoplasma haemocanis

Answer 14

Affects RBCs of dogs
* rare
* rods or chains across cell

Question 15

Answer 15

Mycoplasma haemocanis

Question 16

Mycoplasma haemofelis

Answer 16

Affects RBCs of cats
* fairly common
* no EDTA blood - organism will detach
* cocci, rod, or ring-like structure on cell surface

Question 17

Answer 17

Mycoplasma haemofelis

Question 18

Cytauxzoon felis

Answer 18

Affects RBCs, Lymphocytes, and Macrophages of cats

Question 19

Answer 19

Cytauxzoon felis

Question 20

Acanthocheilonemia reconditum

Answer 20

Similar to HW
* smaller and more narrow
* rarely causes significant disease

Question 21

A. reconditum vs D. immitis

Answer 21

A. reconditum
* blunt head
* curved/hooked tail
* curved body shape

D. immitis
* tapered head
* straight tail
* straight body shape

Question 22

Dirofilaria immitis
Lifecycle

Answer 22

Spread by female mosquito
* MF develop into L3 stage (infectious)
* L3 injected into animals via bite, molt into L4 (immature adult)
* L4 travel to heart and lungs
* create more MF 6-9 months after infection (dogs only)

Question 23

D. immitis vs Cats

Answer 23

• More resistant to infection - single sex common
• MF will follow same infectious and growth path within cat
• Once adults, will not make as many, if any, MF
• Cats are dead-end hosts
• 1 HW is enough to kill them

Question 24

D. immitis vs Cats
HARD

Answer 24

Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease
* signs of heartworm, but get misdiagnosed
* asthma or allergies
* coughing
* tachypnea
* increased respiratory effort

Question 25

D. immitis Clinical Signs

Answer 25

Most classical sign = NONE If on-going long enough, may see: * exercise intolerance * coughing * dyspnea * ascites * murmur * death

Question 26

D. immitis Diagnostics

Answer 26

Screen annually after 7 months of age * HW tests for antigen * tries to identify if at least 1 mature FEMALE worm * boy worms don't excrete protein - test will come back negative * validate test with MF test * Radiographs = enlarged heart / lung bronchi * Ultrasound = worms appear like "="

Question 27

D. immitis Antibody vs Antigen Tests

Answer 27

Antigen * false negatives due to low numbers or only male infection Antibody * detects all types of infections * cant tell if current or past infection

Question 28

D. immitis Treatment for Dogs Doxy

Answer 28

* 4 weeks prior to tx meds * kills bacteria within worms * makes worms easier to kill off

Question 29

D. immitis Treatment for Dogs HW Prevention

Answer 29

* use at least 2-3 months prior to tx meds * prevents further infection * kills immature worms to prevent maturing into adults * can do "slow kill" where only treats with prevention - can take 2 years

Question 30

D. immitis Treatment for Dogs Immiticide

Answer 30

* treatment to kill adult worms * deep IM injection into epaxials * 2-3 doses needed for full treatment * retest 6 months after last injection

Question 31

D. immitis Treatment for Cats

Answer 31

Immiticide not recommended * treat clinical signs * Pred and Doxy