Ectoparasites Flashcards
What is Fleas Latin name?
Ctenocephalides Felis
Ctenocephalides Canis
What are the clinical signs of fleas?
Irritation
Token hairs
Puritis alopecia
Skin thickening
How can fleas be diagnosed?
-can remain undetected due to hair length and thickness
-combing hair of animals
-microscopic examination of hair samples
-damp white paper test
How are fleas treated?
-keep environment clean
-vacuum all rooms and use household spray
-bedding should be washed on hot cycle
-treat all animals in household
What are fleas lifecycle?
-on the host, female flea will feed on blood and mates, eggs are laid on host
-eggs fall off into environment
-with right environmental conditions (2-14days) the eggs hatch into larvae which feeds on organic matter in environment and skin debris
-after a well larvae spins into cocoon and pupates
-10 days after flea fully develops and pupates, flea emerges and jumps onto the host
What is ticks Latin name?
Ixodes Ricinus
Clinical signs of ticks?
Fever
Lameness
Swelling of joints
Cough
Local inflammation
Local infection
How are ticks treated?
-clean removal of tick including mouth parts
-skin disinfection once removed
What is the ticks lifecycle?
-ticks will be positioned on vegetation and will wave their legs (quest) to allow them to attach to host
-they pierce the skin of host and anchor themselves in position with help of barbed structure
-tick feeds from host for several days
-once female fully engorged, drops old host and lays thousands of eggs in environment and dies
What are the 3 Latin names for sucking and chewing lice?
Cat Biting Louse
Felicola Subrostratus
Dog Biting Louse
Tricodectes Canis
Sucking Louse
Linognathus Setosus
What are the clinical signs of Lice?
Hair loss
Intense irritation
Self inflected trauma
Anaemia if in large numbers
How is lice treated?
-can be treated with effective insecticides against lice
-through cleaning of fomites
-all animals in household treated
How is lice diagnosed?
-visual inspection
-coat brushing
-hair plucks
-adhesive tape strips
-microscopic examination
What is Lice lifecycle?
-sucking lice pierce host skin to suck blood
-chewing/biting lice feed on skin debris and secretions
-lice need to down their life on host
-lice lay eggs individually called nits
-lifecycle is 2-6 weeks
How are Lice spread?
Direct contact of suitable hosts
Indirect contact via fomites
Clinical signs of sand flies?
Painful bites on Pinna, nose or abdomen
Organs can be affected
How are sand flies diagnosed?
-confirm if animal has recently traveled in endemic areas
-PCR bloods
-urine
-tissue samples sent to external labs
How are sand flies treated?
-life long treatment required
-prevention when travelling
-can take up to 5 years after initial bite to develop disease
What is sandflies lifecycle?
-female seeks host at dawn or after sunset, humidity is higher
-mouthparts probe skin to cause bleeding, they feed on pool of blood
-eggs laid in damp terrestrial areas
-larvae feeds of organic matter before developing into pupae
-pupae develops into adults after few weeks
What is Latin name of deep burrowing mites?
Demoxdex Canis
Demodex Cati
Clinical signs of deep burrowing mites?
Puritis or non-Puritis alopecia
Secondary bacterial infections
How are deep burrowing mites diagnosed?
-hair plucks
-deep skin scrapes
-microscopic examination
How is deep burrowing mites treated?
-can resolve within 6-8weeks in young animals
-comprehensive ectoparasite treatment, continues after 4weeks after second negative skin scrape
What is another type of deep burrowing mite seen?
Scarcoptes Scabiei
How is Scarcoptes Scabiei treated?
-systemic treatments
-shampoo to remove all dirt and grease
-treat all pets in contact and fomites
What is Scarcoptes Scabiei lifecycle?
-direct or indirect contact with infected host
-adults feed superficially on skin surface
-after mating female burrows deeper into epidermis, feeds on fluid and debris causing tissue damage
-lays eggs for period of several months
-eggs develop to adult 2-3 weeks
-mites survive environment for 2-23wks
What is Latin name of surface mites?
Otodectes Cynotis
Clinical signs of surface mites?
-common in puppies and kitten
-mobile white spots in external ear canal
-brown waxy discharge
-ear scratching
-self inflected trauma
-head shaking
-bacterial and fungal infection
How are surface mites diagnosed?
-visual signs
-sample collection and microscopic examination
How are surface mites treated?
ear cleaner applied topically to breakdown and remove wax
What is Latin name for harvest mites?
Neotrombicula Autumnalis
Clinical signs of harvest mites?
Lesions on skin
Itchy areas
Self inflicted trauma
How are harvest mites diagnosed?
-observation
-activity of mite observed
-patient history of infestations
-skin scrapes and direct impressions
How are harvest mites treated?
Spray or topical treatments
What is harvest mite lifecycle?
-adults lay eggs in decomposing veg
-eggs hatch into larvae
-in dry/sunny conditions larvae becomes active
-attaches to passing hosts and feeds on enzymatically liquified tissues, epithelial secretions and blood
-mite detaches and continues development in the environment
What is surface walking dandruff mites Latin name?
Cheyletiella Yasguri
Chehletiella Blakei
Clinical signs of walking dandruff mites?
Well tolerated
Scaling
Moderate skin lesions
How is walking dandruff mites diagnosed?
-visual of white spots moving on skin
-coat brush with adhesive tape test
-microscopic examination
How are walking dandruff mites treated?
Repeated topical treatment
