Diagnostics

Question 1

Identfy this parasite

Describe this parasite, and what is this parasite a vector off?

Answer 1

Trichodectes (Lice of dog)

Short, broad and yellozish in colour.
Has single claw & 6 segmented abdo.

Vector of dipylidium canium (tapeworm)

Question 2

Identify this parasite.

Describe the identifying feature of this parasite.

Answer 2

Felicola (Lice of cat)

The id. feature of this parasite is the triangular pointed head (which is a lot more pointed in cats sp. than that of dogs). Generally the parasite is a baige yellow colour.

Lice of cats is not seen as often of that of dogs getting lice

Question 3

Identify this parasite.

Desribe the feature of this parasite.

Answer 3

Linognathus (lice of dog & ruminants)

Long pointed nose, and generally bluish-black in colour. The eggs laid are dark blue.

Question 4

Identify this parasite.

What colour is this parasite?

Answer 4

Columbicola columbae (Biting louse of pigeon)

Normally pale yellow & is slender looking.

Question 5

Identify this parasite

Describe this parasite

Answer 5

Gliricola porcelli (Biting louse of guinea pig)

Yellow and slender, head is longer than wide and posteriorly rounder.

Question 6

Identify & describe this parasite

Answer 6

Ctenocepahlides canis (flea of dog)

Head is as long as high. It is more straighter on anterior & anterior surface than C.felis but is also dark brown/black in colour and is laterally compressed.

Question 7

Identify & describe this parasite

Answer 7

Ctenocephalides felis (flea of cats)

Head is twice as long as hight and is more rounded in shape specially the back than that of the dog flea. It is dark brown/ black and is laterally compressed.

Question 8

Identify & describe this parasite

What can this parasite cause?

Answer 8

Sarcoptes scabeii canis (burrowing mite of cats and rarely cats)

It is venterally flattened and has short legs that scarcley project beyond the body margin. It has a round outlie and is approx. 0.4mm in diameter.
Has numerous transverse ridges and triangular scales on dorsum.

Can cause Mange (Scabies)

Question 9

Identify & describe this parasite

Where is this parasite usually found?

Answer 9

Id. :
Demodex aka Demodicidae (burrowing mite canis= dog, cati=cat, bovis= cow) Host specific.

Describe
: It is small and cigar shaped and is up to 0.2mm long. It has 4 pairs of stumpy legs anteriorly

Found:
Hair follicles

Question 10

Identify & describe this parasite

What does the parasite cause?

Answer 10

id:
 Otodectes cynotis (surface (ear) mite of dogs & cats)

Describe:
Ovoid body with long legs and visible (closed) apodemes (similar to tendons) adjacent to 1st and 2nd pair of legs and unjointed pedicles.

Cause:
Dark, bown waxy discharge in ear canal.

Question 11

Identify & describe this parasite

What does this parasite cause?

Answer 11

Id:
Cheyletiella (surface mite)

Describe:
Oval mite with large curved hooks on either side of the mouth. 4 pairs of long legs that terminate in combs instead of claws or suckers. Have 6 long hairs (setae) on the body, one on each side of the terminal anus, 2 on each side of the body between 2nd and 3rd pairs of legs.

Female: 350-500 um long; Males: 285um.

Cause:
Excessive scalling and crusting on dorsal aspects of body with degree of pruritis.

Question 12

Identify & describe this parasite

What can this parasite cause?

Answer 12

Id:
 Trombicula autumnalis (surface (harvest) mite)

Describe:
Small mite, 0.6mm length, orange/red in colour and have plumose setae. Adult/Nymph = 4 pairs of legs, 1mm long. Larvae= 0.6mm long & ONLY 3 pairs of legs.

Cause:
Intense irritation, formation of weals , papules and vesicles d/t hypersensitivity.

Question 13

Identify & describe this parasite this parasite

What does this parasite cause?

Answer 13

Id:
 Dermanyssus gallinae (surface (red) mite of poultry)

Cause:
Large mite approx 1.5mm length. Has long legs that are spider like (4 pairs). Is white top greyish-black and becomes red when engorged. (Similar to tick when filled with blood)

Causes:
Irretation & debility +/- anaemia

Question 14

Identify & describe this parasite

Answer 14

Id:
Ixodes (soft tick)

Describe:
Inornate ticks w/o eyes. Long palps and ventral surface of mite is almost entirely covered with series of plates.
Anal groove anterior to anus.

Adult= 4 pairs legs
Larvae= 3 pairs

Question 15

What is the life cycle of Trichodectes? And what other parasites also have the same lifecycle?

Answer 15

Life cycle:

Adult female on host, lays eggs which are cemented onto hair (approx 200-300 individual egga) —> Eggs hatch to nymph (immature adults) —>Molt 3 times —>Adult

Other parasites:
Linognathus, Felicola, Columbicola and Giricola.

Question 16

How would lice be diagnosed?

Answer 16

*Hair pluck

*Cellotape preperation

* Free catch

Question 17

How are lice transmitted?

Answer 17

By close contact or by the eggs being collected onto grooming quipment then being used to groom another uninfected animal.

Question 18

What is an infection of lice known as? And what can a heavy burden (++++) cause?

Answer 18

Pediculosis.

A heavy burden can cause intense irritation leading to self trauma.

Question 19

How would you recognise lice?

Answer 19

Biting = Big head (occupies width of body and is rounded with ventral mouthparts)
= they have cmall claws
=smaller in general than sucking (3mm)

Sucking =Small head (pointed with terminal mouthparts)
= they have large claws
=bigger in general than biting (5mm)

They are all various sizes but are dorsol ventrally flattened, most are blind.

Question 20

How would you treat lice in animals?

Answer 20

Use of an insectercidal spray and comb out any lice with flea comb.

Question 21

How many pairs of legs do insects have?

And what is the body made up of?

What do th insect group consist of parasite wise?

When are these parasites parasitic?

Answer 21

Legs:
Adults have 3 pairs of legs.

Body:
head, thorax & abdom.

Parasites:
Lice & fleas

Parasitic:
Adult & immature stage (except blowfly-larvae parasitic)

Question 22

Describe the general body of the flea?

Answer 22

Dark brown

Wingless

Laterally compressed bodies.

3rd pair legs longer than rest

Have combs on head

Question 23

What can infection on fleas cause?

Answer 23

Localised inflam. response leading to irritation

++++ = anaemia

Flea allergic dermatitis

Millary dermititis (feline species)

Question 24

Describe the generaly life cycle of the flea

Answer 24

Adult flea mates on host & lays eggs–>

Eggs drops off to environment—>

after 2-14 days they hatch into larvae —>

Larvae feed (skin debris, F+ mattr)—>

Moult twice—>

spin cocoon —>

after 10 days adult fully developed inside pupa—>

waits for host avalibility (pressure, vibrations)–>

emerge & attach to host

Usually life span 1-2 years & can live off host w/o meal >6months. Not host specific

Question 25

How are fleas diagnosed?

Answer 25

Spray with insectercide, stand on plastic sheet & comb vigorously. (Generally done when id. of flea is found)

Question 26

How is ctenocephalides treated?

Answer 26

Ivermectin spray

Question 27

How are fleas transmitted?

Answer 27

Not transmitted as such, more so flea waits for host availability of host to detect. Can be direct contact.

Question 28

What is the life cycle of a tick?

Answer 28

F. on host engorges blood meal—>

F drops to ground & lays eggs—>

Egg hatch to larvae & find small host—>

Larvae feed, drop off & molt to nymph—>

Nymph attached to host—>

Feeds, drops & molts to adult—>

Adult uses vegitation to get onto host—>

Adult on host.

Generally: egg—>larvae—>nypmh—>adult.

Question 29

What is the life cycle of mites?

Answer 29

(Sarcoptes scabii LC)

Fertilised f. creates winding burrow in upper epidermis->

feeds on oozing liquid & lays eggs—>

eggs hatch (3-5 days) to larvae—>

larvae burrow to superficial layers of skin—>

moult to nymph—>

moult to adult

General: 4 pair leg adult—> Egg—> 3 paired leg larvea—>4 paired leg nymph

Question 30

How are mites treated?

Answer 30

Advocate, Ivermectin, Auldex

Question 31

How are mites diagnosed?

Answer 31

Inspection of coat brushings

Skin scrapes (surface of deep)

Hair plucks

Cellotape preperations

Question 32

What parasites are included in arachnids?

What is the body of arachnids generally made up of?

What form of the parasite is parasitic?

Answer 32

Parasites:
Mites & ticks

Body:
Cephalothorax & abdom.

Parasitic:
 Adult form (excp T.autumnalis-larvae)

Question 33

How are ticks diagnosed?

How are ticks removed?

Answer 33

Through examination and identification upon removal.

Using special equipment that hooks around the tick and ensures the head is not left in the body upon removal.

Question 34

Heavy burden of ticks may lead to which disorber?

Answer 34

Anaemia

Question 35

Generally how big are ticks (adult)?

Answer 35

2.0-3.0mm long

Question 36

What do trombicula autumnalis feed on?

Answer 36

Digested tissue, of which the parasite larvae insert mouth pieces into the skin and inject cytolytic enzymes which break down the skin.

Question 37

How are ticks treated?

Answer 37

Generaly by removal, then monitoriing the area where the tick was to ensure no infection occurs.

Question 38

General Info- Lice

Answer 38

Biting= Mallophaga (Trichodectes, Felicola, Columbicola, Giricola)

Sucking= Anoplura (Linognathus)

All dorso ventrally flatteed, and most are blind (some have primative photosensitive spots)

Legs terminate into claws (mammals 1, birds 2)

Transmitted by close contact or through contaminated grooming equipment

Lose spends entire LC on host

Highly host specific (if on wrong host, wont last more than 2 days)

Yound and debilitated are worst effected

++++ = intense irritation, self trauma +/- anaemia

LC: F lays eggs 200-330 indivudually & cement to hair (eggs just visible to naked eye), hatch to immature adultys aka nymph and moult 3 times to adult. Life cycle is 2-3 weeks.

Question 39

General info- fleas

Answer 39

Dark brown, wingless insects with laterally compressed bodies with a glossy surface (helps to guide through fur).

The eyes if present are photosensitive spots and antennae are recessed into the head.

Third pair of legs is much longer than the rest to aid with jumping

Adult flies bite host to take a blood meal (parasitic)

Cause local inflammation and irritation and ++++ = anaemia.

Can also cause flea allergic dermatitis and miliary dermatitis (feline).

Vectors of diplydium canium (tapeworm)

Life cycle is generally quicker in warmer temperatures.

F flea mates on host & lays eggs, eggs fall off onto environment (they are smooth). Egga hatch 2-14 days after into larvae (maggots with bristles). Larvae (have hewing mouthparts) and feed on skin debris and F+ of adult fleas. Moult twice and spin a cocoon and after 10 days adult if fully formed. Wait for signs of host availability (pressure, vibrations etc) before emerge.

Life span 1-2 years, can live off host w/o food >6 months.

Not host specific.

Question 40

General info- mites

Answer 40

All perminant ectoparasites that spend the entire LC on the host.

Adult and nymph parasitic, except T.autumnalis where only the larvae parasitic.

Burrowing= Sarcoptes, demodex

Surface= Otodectes, cheyetiella, T.autumnalis, Dermanyssus.

Ix can cause dermatitis.

Larvae have 3 pairs of legs, whereas nymph and adult have 4.

Question 41

General info- ticks

Answer 41

Temporary parasites that spend relatively little time on the host (except I.canisuga which remains on host from larvae-adult).

Adults 2-3mm long and generally when on host you can see a small greyish swelling visible which is firmly attached to the animal, where the mouth parts are buried into the animals flesh.

Once fully fed, the tick will fall of the host.

Most common in SA is the sheep tick and hedgehog tick.

++++ ix = anaemia

Vectors of lyme, babesia and rocky mountiain spotten fever.

2 types Ixodes (hard tick) and Argasidae (soft tick)
Soft ticks are more tropical ticks.