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Parasitology Lab > Insects > Flashcards

Insects Flashcards

1
Q

Mosquitoes are members of the _________ family?

A

Culicidae

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2
Q

Mosquitoes are part of an important genera, and include?

A

Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, Culiseta, and Psorophora.

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3
Q

Mosquitoes are voracious?

A

Blood feeders.

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4
Q

Mosquitoes breed in?

A

Water

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5
Q

Mosquitoes feed on? (female vs male)

A

Females: blood.
Males: nectar, plant juices, and other liquids.

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6
Q

Mosquitoes can transmit disease such as?

A

Malaria, yellow fever, and dengue in humans, as well as a vector for Dirofilaria immitis and Equine Viral Encephalitis.

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7
Q

Mosquitoes are also vectors for?

A

West Nile Virus (encephalitis or brain inflammation) which can affect:
-humans, horse, birds, as well as dogs & cats, but in these cases the infection is usually inapparent or mild.

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8
Q

Treatment for mosquitoes usually involves?

A

Environmental measure such as insecticides, larvicides, or using various species of fish as biological controls.

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9
Q

Control of mosquitoes includes?

A
  • Eliminating standing water from property.
  • Removing vessels that may collect rainwater & become breeding grounds.
  • Keep watering troughs clean by changing water often.
  • Use of mosquito dunks in ponds.
  • Commercial repellants such as coils that are burned to produce a smoke that repels.
  • Mosquito traps that mimic mammals by emitting CO2, heat, and moisture.
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10
Q

What are some common mosquito repellants?

A

-DEET, permethrins, and oil of citronella.

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11
Q

For large animals such as cattle?

Mosquitoes

A

Topical applications such as sprays and repellants are not very effective.

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12
Q

For small animals, especially dogs?

Mosquitoes

A

Some topical applications also repel and kill mosquitoes (K9 Advantix - Imidacloprid/permethrin).

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13
Q

Flies

Overview

A
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Diptera
  • Generally NOT host specific.
  • Lay eggs, hatch into larva, then become adult.
  • Some species lay eggs in organic material, filth, wounds, standing water, on the host, etc.
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14
Q

Flies

Tabanus spp.

A
  • Horsefly, deerfly
  • Females feed aggressively on blood; bite is painful.
  • Can transmit equine infectious anemia, anthrax, tularemia, anaplasmosis.
  • Breed in standing water.
  • Diagnosis: ID of adult fly.
  • Treatment: Commercial fly repellants repeated at intervals.
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15
Q

Flies

Hypoderma spp.

A
  • Common cattle bot fly.
  • Larvae can be found in stomach.
  • Larvae migrate through flesh, cause weight loss & decrease value of hides.
  • Migrate to esophagus or spinal column before forming warbles on the back.
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16
Q

Flies
Hypoderma spp.

Cysts or “warbles” form….

A

Around the larvae, which undergo two molts (second and third stage).

  • The warble stage lasts 4-8 weeks.
  • Finally, third stage larvae emerge through the breathing holes, drop to ground, and pupate.
  • Flies emerge from pupae in 1 to 3 months depending on weather conditions.
  • Adult flies, which do not feel live <1 week.
  • The life cycle is complete in one year.
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17
Q

Flies
Hypoderma spp.

Adult flies do not?

A

Sting or bite, but they are an annoyance to cattle.

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18
Q

Flies
Hypoderma spp.

Diagnosis / Treatment

A

Diagnosis: Warbles on back of cattle.
Treatment: Pour-on organophosphates (coumaphos, famphur, fenthion); ivermectin.

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19
Q

Flies

Gasterophilus spp.

A
  • Bot fly
  • Very common, most horses are infected with Gasterophilus larvae (in the stomach).
  • Flies lay eggs on horse which are ingested (July-Sept); larvae develop & remain in stomach over winter; in spring they are passed out & develop into adults.
  • Flies buzzing around are annoying to cattle, horses.
20
Q

Flies
Gasterophilus spp.

Diagnosis / Treatment

A

Diagnosis: Yellow eggs on hair of legs, face; at necropsy larvae are at pyloric or cardiac region of stomach.

Treatment: Carbon disulfide, dichlorvos, ivermectin, removal of eggs as soon as they are laid.

21
Q

Flies

Oestrus ovis

A
  • Sheep nasal bot fly.
  • Adults lay eggs around nasal area; larvae migrate to sinuses.
  • Causes nasal discharge & difficulty in breathing, excessive sneezing.
  • Adult flies are annoyance to sheep.
22
Q

Flies
Oestrus ovis
Diagnosis / Treatment

A

Diagnosis: Clinical signs; observe larvae at necropsy.

Treatment: Ivermectin is most effective.

23
Q

Flies

Cuterebra spp.

A
  • Rodent bot fly.
  • Larvae are subcutaneous (penetrate skin) or may be ingested.
  • Can infect dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrels, mice (rodents are DH).
  • Dogs and cats are abnormal hosts for this parasite; aberrant migrations can involve the head, brain, nasal passages, pharynx, and eyelids (can cause CNS probs if block arterial supply to brain).
  • Larvae exist in host for 1 to 2 months; exit through breathing hole, fall to ground, and pupate.
24
Q

Flies
Cuterebra spp.
Diagnosis / Treatment

A

Diagnosis: Cutaneous lump w/a breathing hold; large light to dark-red or charcoal larvae with dark spines.

Treatment: careful extraction of larvae (damaging larvae may cause anaphylaxis), antimicrobial treatment of wound.

25
Q

Lice

Overview

A
  • Compressed dorsoventrally.
  • Sensitive to direct light, therefore generally found in darker patches of fur.
  • Transmission is usually via direct contact.
  • Host-specific & spend entire lifecycle on host; this makes them easier to get rid of.
  • Adults will die w/in 5 days off host; however, disengaged eggs may hatch if enviro conditions are right.
26
Q 
Lice
Two Groups (suborders)
A

Anoplura (sucking)

  • have elongated head (narrower than thorax).
  • claws.
  • grayish or red.
  • usually larger than mallophaga.
  • feed on blood.

Mallophaga (biting/chewing)

  • rounded head (as wide or wider than thorax).
  • yellowish in color.
  • generally more mobile than anoplura.
  • feed on dead skin & fragments of hair/feathers.
27
Q

Lice

Species

A

Anoplura

  • Haematopinus spp. (pigs, ruminants)
  • Linognathus setosus (dogs)
  • Polyplax spp. (mice, rodents)

Mallophaga

  • Felicola subrostratus (cats)
  • Trichodectes canis (dogs)

Pediculus humanus capitis (human head louse)

28
Q

Lice

Signs of Pediculosis

A
  • Intense pruritus.
  • Self-infliceted wound from excessive scratching which may become infected.
  • Dull, rough hair coat.
  • Alopecia.
  • Examine fur for adults, nymphs and nits (eggs).
  • Can be found on the head, at base of ears, and elbow areas (dark furred areas).
29
Q

Lice

3 Stage Life Cycle

A
  1. Egg/nit
  2. Nymph
  3. Adult
30
Q

Lice

Life Cycle

A
  • Females lay eggs which are glued to host’s hair or feathers.
  • Eggs develop in 1 to 2 weeks.
  • Total development from egg to adult takes from 3 to 5 weeks.
  • Adult lifespan is at least one month.
31
Q

Lice

Treatment

A
  • Carbaryl, pyrethrins, ivermectin, lindane, coumaphos, diazinon, malathion, rotenone,.
  • Medicated dips, dusts, shampoos, sprays.
  • Usually treat twice, repeat second treatment in 3 weeks (coincide w/life cycle).
32
Q

Lice

Control / Prevention

A
  • Disinfect enviro and isolation (do not put animal in enviro where lice infested animal was).
  • Keep pets away from animals with lice infestation.
  • usually not necessary to treat enviro as lice complete lifecycle on host.
33
Q

Lice

Other Facts

A
  • Lice (& Fleas) are wingless.

- Lice infest mainly very young or very old/debilitated animals.

34
Q

Mites

Overview

A
  • Microscopic arthropods; not visible to naked eye.
  • Transmission is usually via direct contact.
  • Host-specific & site of infestation varies with genera.
  • Some species cause mange (cutaneous acariasis)
35
Q

Mites

Species

A
  • Cheyletiella spp. (dogs, cats)
  • Demodex canis (dogs)
  • Otodectes cynotis (dogs, cats)
  • Notoedres cati (cats)
  • Sarcoptes scabiei (dogs)
  • Dermanyssus gallinae
36
Q

Cheyletiella Mites

A
  • Walking Dandruff
    • lives on surface of skin, may even be seen on hair.
  • Collect w/cellophane tape technique
  • Relatively large, can be seen w/hand magnifier, brush hair, place material on dark background.
  • Causes variable degree of pruritus, produce excessive crusting/scaling of dorsal surface of host’s body.
37
Q

Demodex Mites

A
  • Red mange, elongated (cigar shaped), stubby legs.
  • Entire life cycle spent in hair follicles.
  • Host specific, considered non-contagious or transmissible.
  • Considered non-pathogenic in small numbers, part of the normal cutaneous fauna.
  • Inhabits hair follicles & sebaceous glands of dogs, cats & humans.
  • Presence of skin lesions w/ numerous mites recovered on skin scrapings is determining sign.
  • Localized areas of redness, crusting, alopecia, initially around eye, ears, & mouth.
  • Generalized demodicosis may involve much of the body (dermatitis).
  • Inherited immune defect may produce demodicosis.
38
Q

Sarcoptes Mites

Notoedres Mites

A
  • Scabies, sarcoptic acariasis or sarcoptic mange.
  • Relatively host specific, spread by direct contact.
  • Parasite of epidermis in dogs and humans.
  • Severe pruritus, large areas of alopecia, and irritation around eyes, ears, muzzle, & abdomen.
  • Recovery from affected animals is difficult, requires multiple, deep (draw blood) skin scrapings.
  • Response to treatment often used as diagnosis (if animal responds to treatment, then sarcoptes is confirmed).

Notoedres is feline scabies, similar to above, smaller in size.

39
Q

Otodectes Mites

A
  • Common ear mite, NOT host specific, readily transmitted between cats & dogs.
  • Parasitizes external ear canal of dogs/cats.
  • Common cause of otitis externa.
  • May be found on other body parts.
  • Cause intense irritation, thick dry, black crusts (like used coffee grounds) in ear canal accompanied by pruritus.
  • Scratching & shaking head may produce infection & aural hematoma.
  • ID with otoscope, microscope exam.
40
Q

Mites

Life Cycle

A

4 Stages
Egg–>Larva (6 legs)–>Nymph (8 legs)–>Adult
Complete in 18-21 days.

41
Q

Mites

Treatment, Control, & Prevention

A

Dips (once a wk, 4-7 wks), dusts, shampoos, sprays, liquids containing:

  • Amitrax (Mitaban)
  • Chlorpyrifos
  • Lime Sulfur
  • Lindane
  • Phospmet (Paramite)
  • Carbaryl
  • Ivermectin (Acarexx), ear mites
  • Thiabendazol (Tresaderm), ear mites
  • Selamectin (Revolution), ear mites
42
Q

Mites

Method of collection of sarcoptes, notoedres, and deomodex:

A
  • Scrape skin w/scalpel blade coated w/mineral oil to allow for debris to stick to blade.
  • Also apply mineral oil to slide and wipe scalpel blade on miner oil coated slide.
  • May use coverslip.
  • Examine under microscope (10x).
43
Q

Mites

Method of collection of otodectes:

A
  • Dip q-tip or cotton-tipped applicator in mineral oil.
  • Swab ear & transfer sample onto slide (add more oil).
  • Add coverslip & examine under microscope (10x power)
44
Q

Fleas

Overview

A
  • Fleas feed on the host’s blood.
  • They cause digging, scratching (pruritus)
  • Allergies (flea bite dermatitis - FAD)
  • Are an intermediate host for Dipylidium caninum (flea tapeworm).
  • Are zoonotic, carry diseases such as tularemia, plague, etc.
45
Q

Fleas

Species

A
  • Ctenocephalides canis (rare), dogs & cats.
  • Ctenocephalides felis (most common 85-90%), dogs & cats.
  • Pulex irritans (human flea).
  • Xenopsylla cheopis (rat flea, main carrier of bubonic plague).
  • Echidnophaga gallinacea (poultry, aka sticktight flea, hunchbacked appearance, attaches firmly to host).
46
Q

Fleas

Signs

A
  • Allergy to saliva, some animals hypersensitive, FAD
  • Suck blood and can cause anemia, 250 fleas can consume 10% of a 1 lb kitten’s blood.
  • Hot spots, self-inflicted moist dermatitis (may start from a flea bite), excessive licking causes irritation (licking removes keratin layer of skin).
  • Adults can be found on host, usually abdomen, thighs, tail, head.
  • Flea droppings, “dirt” on animal.
47
Q

Fleas

Life Cycle

A

4 STAGES

Parasitology Lab (10 decks)

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