Blood Parasites

Question 1

Endemic

Answer 1

• Specific to a locality
• Confined to a certain location

Question 2

Occult

Answer 2

• Not apparent even though infection is present
• Infection without clinical symptoms & signs

Question 3

Microfilaria
“Little larvie”

Answer 3

Pre-larval stage of parasite

Question 4

Periodicity

Answer 4

Variability within a specific time period

Question 5

What are blood parasite nematodes? (1)

Answer 5

Actual worms of the parasites
1. Dirofilaria immitis (heart worm)

Question 6

Blood parasite protozoa (2)

Answer 6

1. Babesia
2. Trypanosoma

Question 7

Blood parasite rickettsia (3)

Answer 7

1. Anaplasma
2. Hemobartonella
3. Ehrlichia

Question 8

Describe “Dirofiliaria immitis” adults & microfiliaria

Answer 8

Adults: Long, slender white worms. Males (5-7”) have corkscrew tails. Females are 10-12” long.

Microfilaria: Tapered anterior, tail straight or hooked. 307-322 um long

Question 9

Heartworm disease
Host:
Intermediate host:

Answer 9

Host: Dog, cat, ferret, seal, sea lion, & human

Intermediate host: Mosquito

Question 10

Heartworm life cycle (5)

Answer 10

1. Host w/microfilaria is bitten by mosq
2. Microfilaria develop thru L1-L3 stages in mosq over 2 weeks
3. Mosq bites new host & transmits L3
4. L3 travel to vessels of ling & heart to develop into adults (6 months)
5. Adults breed and shed microfilaria into blood

Question 11

T/F: Endemic areas of heartworm in dogs are in the south & SE. It affects 40-60% of outdoor dogs.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

Which side of the heart & arteries does heartworm primarily invade?
Right or left?

Answer 12

Right ventricle and pulmonary veins.

RARELY invades the right atrium, vena, cava, skin, & CNS

Question 13

Clinical signs of heartworm (7)

Answer 13

1. Exercise intolerance
2. Cough, blood in sputum (worm is close to lungs)
3. Liver & kidney disease
4. Anemia
5. Weight loss
6. Dyspnea
7. SVDDEN DEATH

Question 14

How to diagnose heartworm (3)
Blood tests (4)

Answer 14

1. Clinical signs
2. Rads of heart & lungs
3. Ultrasound of heart

Blood:
1. Direct smear
2. Modified Knott’s test
3. Filter technique
4. ELISA - antibody of host or antigen of parasite

Question 15

Therapy for heartworm

Answer 15

1. Adult worm killed with arsenic compound
2. Rarely, surgically remove
   3.Microfilaria are killed with ivermectin

Question 16

Heartworm in cats. How long can an adult live in a cat for?

Answer 16

2 to 3 years

Question 17

What does heartworm look like in cats?

Answer 17

Most likely like a lung disease
- coughing
- difficulty breathing

Question 18

Diagnosis of heartworm in cats (2)

Microfilaria may not occur, or only lasts for a month. Therefore, diagnosis is more difficult.

Answer 18

Only reliable method:
Heartworm antibody test and heartworm antigen test

Question 19

Heartworm key points in cats and dogs

Answer 19

1. Both can get heart disease
2. Cats tend to get lung disease

Question 20

Protozoa: Babesia
How is it transmitted? Where geographically does it occur?

Fun fact: Grey hounds are especially at risk!

Answer 20

1. Transmitted by ticks
2. Southern US & CA

Question 21

What does Babesia do to it’s host?

Answer 21

Causes red cell destruction and low platelet counts

Question 22

How fatal is Babesia?

Answer 22

Mild to fatal. The illness is variable

Question 23

Babesia diagnosis (2)

Answer 23

1. Microscopic ID of parasite in blood cells
   - Capillary blood is best for ID
2. Serology (antibodies to Babesia)

Question 24

Protozoa: Trypanosoma cruzi
Where is it most common geographically?

Answer 24

Southern US, Texas, & CA

Question 25

T/F: Trypanosoma cruzi is a flagellated blood parasite

Answer 25

True! It has a flagella

Question 26

Intermediate host of Trypanosoma cruzi

Answer 26

Is reduvid bug

Question 27

Trypanosoma cruzi disease in young and old dogs

Answer 27

Young: Heart failure and svdden death Old: Heart failure, encephalitis, diarrhea, death within 5yrs

Question 28

Trypanosoma cruzi diagnosis (3)

Answer 28

1. ID in blood or heart biopsy 2. Serology (antibodies) 3. PCR (antigen Remember, PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction!

Question 29

Rickettsia: Hemobartonellosis in cats Transmission: Fatality: Any clinical symptoms?

Answer 29

1. Transmitted by fleas 2. Can be fatal anemia if FeLV+ or other severe stress 3. Generally asymptomatic

Question 30

T/F: Hemobartonellosis attaches to the surface of RBC

Answer 30

True

Question 31

Hemobartonellosis in dogs (rare!) Transmission: Diagnosis: Can be difficult due to intermittent presence, artifacts, or EDTA

Answer 31

1. By ticks 2. Microscopic ID in anemic animals

Question 32

Rickettsia: Anaplasma in dogs Transmission: Does it occur in WA?

Answer 32

1. Ticks 2. Yes

Question 33

T/F: Anaplasma are intracellular bacteria

Answer 33

true

Question 34

Anaplasma in dogs "tick fever" symptoms

Answer 34

1. Fever, lethargy, musculoskeletal pain, lymph node and spleen/liver enlargement 2. Low WBC counts, low platelet, & anemia

Question 35

Anaplasma diagnosis

Answer 35

Found within WHC (neutrophils) - Serology is best

Question 36

Rickesttsia: Ehrlichia Transmission: Geographical concern:

Answer 36

1. Ticks 2. Southern US

Question 37

T/F: Ehrlichia are intercellular bacteria that infects the WBC

Answer 37

Ha Ha NOPE! They are intracellular bacteria that infects the WBC

Question 38

Ehrlichia in dogs Acute: Chronic: Affect in eyes:

Answer 38

1. Acute: fever, low WBC counts, enlarged spleen, & lymph nodes 2. Chronic: Over months to years may cause immune and bone marrow disease 3. Eyes: disease is common, blindness is possible

Question 39

Ehrlichia diagnosis

Answer 39

1. Occasionally organism seen in WBC 2. Serology is best

Question 40

Borrela burgdoferi in common terms is what?

Answer 40

Lyme disease!

Question 41

Borrela burgdoferi Transmission

Answer 41

Feeding infected tick, either nymph or adult must be attached to the dog for 18-48hrs to transmit Possible for cats to acquire but rare!

Question 42

Borrela burgdoferi clinical symptoms in dogs (2)

Answer 42

1. Shifting leg lameness: - Lame for 3-4 days in one location, then moves to different leg - Swollen, painful joints might be seen 2. Chronic infection: - Kidney disease/heart failure - Heart disease

Question 43

Borrela burgdoferi treatment

Answer 43

Tetracycline antibiotics for 2-4 weeks

Question 44

Borrela burgdoferi prevention (3)

Answer 44

1. Tick control!! 2. Check daily for ticks & remove 3. Vaccines availible for high risk dogs