Implications of Ecto and Endo Parasites

Question 1

Flea infestations - presentations

Answer 1

• variety of presentations determined by no. of factors including number of animals and no. of flease
• 2 main presentations = depending whether or not the host is sensitised to allergens present in flea saliva
• fleas present anticoagulents to make it easier to suck blood (prevent blood cloting)

Question 2

Flea infestations - non-hypersensitive animal

Answer 2

• not allergic to flea saliva and so CS can be moderate
• hard for owner to pick up on
• presence of fleas and faeces
• anaemia in serious cases
• not scratching enough to draw attention

Question 3

Flea infestations - sensitised animal

Answer 3

• this animal is allergic to the saliva of flea
• pruritis (itchiness)
• self trauma ~ biting themselves, lead to secondary bacterial infections
• crusting (scabs as result of bites)
• alopecia
• truncated hairs (shortend)
• cats - miliary dermatitis = inflamation of skin, scabs resembles millet seeds

Question 4

Flea control

Answer 4

• kill adult flea on host ~ good quality spot on
• kill developmental stages in the environment
  ~ good quality cleaning/vaccume and insecticide/insect growth regulator sprays for use in the enviro
  ~ required for spot on treatment to work

Question 5

Lice control

Answer 5

• heavily louse infested animals can show severe pruritis, hair loss, skin thickening and anaemia (sucking louse)
• re infestation prevented by ensuring treatment of host is effective
• as lice do not live welll off the host = transmission usually direct contact
• good quality spot on preparation
• dont worry about enviro

Question 6

Tick - disease it can cause and treatment

Answer 6

• lyme disease (caused by spirochate bacteria from the genus Borrelia in man and dogs
• flu like symptoms
• infestations associated with secondary bacterial infection
• predispose to fly strike and rarely blood sucking lead to degree of anaemia and death
• removing ticks inappropriately can lead to tick granulomas
• physical removal = tick hook - regurgutate contents into host of hold body of tick, pass on disease
• good quality spot on preparation

Question 7

Tick infestations - CS

Answer 7

• the first visible signs are small nodules and pustules as well as increased calling
• pruritus - intense = constant scratching
  ~ excessive excoriation and secondary bacterial infections are common
• alopecia
• thickening and wrinkling of skin
• treatment with Selamecting e.g. stronghold spot on - 1st treatment, 2nd treatment 4 weeks later, 3rd treatment another 4 weeks later

Question 8

Tick infestation - demodex

Answer 8

• ceratinisation of skin (harden), no flexibility, split skin, susceptable to infection treated with spot ons

Question 9

Diplydium caninum

Answer 9

• primary host = dog/cat
• adults in gut
• worm doesnt want to kill host so not all get ill
• gut sin=gns moderate unless huge infestation, cover absorbative area, cant absorb food and loses weight
• scring in areas where worm latches but is unusual
• intermediate host = flea
• cysts develops in flea body cavity containing developing forms of the tape worm

Question 10

Taenia tape worm

Answer 10

• primary host = dogs and more commonly cats
• gut signs (like dip caninum)
• intermediate host = birds/small mamals
• cysts develop in various predilection sites containing developing forms of the tapeworm

Question 11

Echinococcus granulosus

Answer 11

• hydatid disease = cysts develop in or on liver/lungs and brain, cysts eventually die but disease prolonged and painful, difficult to diagnose and treat
• primary host = dog
• intermediate host = usual intermediate host is sheep however, any mammal in contact with dogs can become an intermediate host, including man (zoonosis)
• Cysts develops in lung, liver and body cavity containing developing forms of the tapeworm

Question 12

Toxocara canis

Answer 12

• some dont display any signs of roundworm infestation
• fail to put on weight, foul breath, diarrhoea, constipation
• several worm infestations can cause anaemia or bowel obstruction
• zoonosis = accidently ingest eggs by humans, hatch in gut and migrate to distant part of body e.g. the eye (blindness in children)
• dogs infected through no. of sources
  ~ grass soil in public places
  ~ ingesting paratenic host
  ~ pregnant females can pass infection to puppies IN UTEO AND MILK

Question 13

Toxocara cati

Answer 13

• cats infected by no. of sources
  ~ picking up eggs from grass/soil
  ~ ingesting paratenic host
  ~ pregnant females can pass infection to kittens by milk

Question 14

Examples of worming products

Answer 14

Advocate® (Imidacloprid/moxidectin) – Available for dogs and cats. Treats GI nematodes.

Drontal® (Praziquantel, pyrantel, febantel) – Available for dogs and cats. Treats GI cestodes and nematodes.

Milbemax® (Milbemycin/praziquantel) – Available for dogs and cats. Treats GI cestodes and nematodes.

Panacur® (Fenbendazole) – Available for dogs and cats. Treats GI nematodes (and Taenia spp. Cestodes).

Stronghold® (Selamectin) – Available for dogs and cats. Treats GI nematodes.

Question 15

Worming protocols and general guidance

Answer 15

Evaluate - if worms common, take treatment seriously or not common/unlikly for individual animal activity, dont need to treat as often

• depend on risk assessment of what is likley to be present
• Puppies and kittens – wormed with a suitable product from two (puppies) or three (kittens) weeks of age, then every two weeks until weaned and then monthly until 12 weeks of age.
• Dogs and cats – between one and three months dependent on risk.