Diagnostics Flashcards
Identfy this parasite
Describe this parasite, and what is this parasite a vector off?
Trichodectes (Lice of dog)
Short, broad and yellozish in colour.
Has single claw & 6 segmented abdo.
Vector of dipylidium canium (tapeworm)
Identify this parasite.
Describe the identifying feature of this parasite.
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
Identify this parasite.
Desribe the feature of this parasite.
Linognathus (lice of dog & ruminants)
Long pointed nose, and generally bluish-black in colour. The eggs laid are dark blue.
Identify this parasite.
What colour is this parasite?
Columbicola columbae (Biting louse of pigeon)
Normally pale yellow & is slender looking.
Identify this parasite
Describe this parasite
Gliricola porcelli (Biting louse of guinea pig)
Yellow and slender, head is longer than wide and posteriorly rounder.
Identify & describe this parasite
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.
Identify & describe this parasite
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.
Identify & describe this parasite
What can this parasite cause?
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)
Identify & describe this parasite
Where is this parasite usually found?
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
Identify & describe this parasite
What does the parasite cause?
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.
Identify & describe this parasite
What does this parasite cause?
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.
Identify & describe this parasite
What can this parasite cause?
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.
Identify & describe this parasite this parasite
What does this parasite cause?
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
Identify & describe this parasite
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
What is the life cycle of Trichodectes? And what other parasites also have the same lifecycle?
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.
How would lice be diagnosed?
*Hair pluck
*Cellotape preperation
* Free catch
How are lice transmitted?
By close contact or by the eggs being collected onto grooming quipment then being used to groom another uninfected animal.
What is an infection of lice known as? And what can a heavy burden (++++) cause?
Pediculosis.
A heavy burden can cause intense irritation leading to self trauma.
How would you recognise lice?
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.
How would you treat lice in animals?
Use of an insectercidal spray and comb out any lice with flea comb.
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?
Legs:
Adults have 3 pairs of legs.
Body:
head, thorax & abdom.
Parasites:
Lice & fleas
Parasitic:
Adult & immature stage (except blowfly-larvae parasitic)
Describe the general body of the flea?
Dark brown
Wingless
Laterally compressed bodies.
3rd pair legs longer than rest
Have combs on head
What can infection on fleas cause?
Localised inflam. response leading to irritation
++++ = anaemia
Flea allergic dermatitis
Millary dermititis (feline species)
Describe the generaly life cycle of the flea
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
How are fleas diagnosed?
Spray with insectercide, stand on plastic sheet & comb vigorously. (Generally done when id. of flea is found)
How is ctenocephalides treated?
Ivermectin spray
How are fleas transmitted?
Not transmitted as such, more so flea waits for host availability of host to detect. Can be direct contact.
What is the life cycle of a tick?
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.
What is the life cycle of mites?
(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
How are mites treated?
Advocate, Ivermectin, Auldex
How are mites diagnosed?
Inspection of coat brushings
Skin scrapes (surface of deep)
Hair plucks
Cellotape preperations
What parasites are included in arachnids?
What is the body of arachnids generally made up of?
What form of the parasite is parasitic?
Parasites:
Mites & ticks
Body:
Cephalothorax & abdom.
Parasitic: Adult form (excp T.autumnalis-larvae)
How are ticks diagnosed?
How are ticks removed?
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.
Heavy burden of ticks may lead to which disorber?
Anaemia
Generally how big are ticks (adult)?
2.0-3.0mm long
What do trombicula autumnalis feed on?
Digested tissue, of which the parasite larvae insert mouth pieces into the skin and inject cytolytic enzymes which break down the skin.
How are ticks treated?
Generaly by removal, then monitoriing the area where the tick was to ensure no infection occurs.
General Info- Lice
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.
General info- fleas
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.
General info- mites
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.
General info- ticks
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.
