Into, Ticks, Mites

Question 1

Basic Parasitology Definitions of:

Symbiotic definition: 
Predator- Prey 
Phoresis 
Mutualism 
Commensalism 
Parasitism 

Types of Parasites: 
Ectoparasite 
Endoparasite 
Aberrant 
Incidentive 
Facultative 
Obligatory 
Periodic 
Pseudoparasites

Answer 1

Symbiotic definition:
Predator- Prey: One benefits at expense of other
Phoresis: Smaller symbionts mechanically carried by larger
Mutualism: Both benefit
Commensalism: One benefits at no effect of the other
Parasitism: One symbionts lives in or on the host and derives nutrition/protection from host at some point, and causes ‘harm’ (no effect on host, subclinical, clinical)

Types of Parasites:
Ectoparasite: Living on the outside of the body
Endoparasite: Living inside the body
Aberrant: Infects different location from normal infection site
Incidentive: Occurs in a host which it doesn’t usually live in
Facultative: Nonparasitic organism that becomes parasitic under certain circumstances (ie blowfly)
Obligatory: MUST lead parasitic existence at one point but can be ‘free-living’ in some part of life cycle.
Periodic- organism makes frequent short visits for nourishment
Pseudoparasites: Mistaken as parasite

Question 2

General Life Cycle of Parasites- what does it tell you?

Why is this Important?

Answer 2

Location in host and environment, morphological forms in life stages in and out of environment, length of time spent in each stage, time for parasite to be infective, mode/route of transmission, time from infection to patency (detectable infection), host specificity.

Diagnosis of disease and parasite ID, prediction of disease, control of disease, protection against cross-species infection and zoonosis, environment management to minimize host infection, timing of when to treat and if repeat is needed.

Question 3

Ectoparasite classification of Ticks/Mites

Answer 3

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Acarina

Question 4

Phylogenetic classification of ____________________?

Answer 4

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phthiraptera, Siphonaptera, Diptera

Question 5

Insects vs Acarines

• Body Segments
• Legs
• Antennnae
• Wings

Answer 5

Insects vs Acarines:

• Body Segments: 3 (head, thorax, abdomen) vs 2 (CEPHALOTHORAX= gnathosoma, abdomen= idiosoma.
• Legs: 6 vs 8
• Antennae: Present vs Absent
• Wings: May be present vs absent

Question 6

2 Families of Ticks

Answer 6

Ixodidae = "hard ticks", have sputum covering most of shell in males and partial in females means can't enlarge during feeding  
Argasidae= "soft ticks', less common in vet med but common in poultry, no scutum and can enlarge during feeding.

Question 7

Soft Tick (1)

• Location
• Host Species
• Preferred Site
• Symptoms
• Life Cycle
• X-host ticks
• Transmission of..

Answer 7

Otobius megnini= Spinose ear tick

• Western North America into the Midwest
• Catttle, Horses, S. American camelids, dogs, cats, wildlife, humans
• Ear Canal
• Cria with head tilt
• Adult females don’t feed (vestigial mouthparts) and lay SINGLE clutch of eggs, larvae attach to host animal and feed, molt to nymphs and feed/remain with host for 1-7 months. Unwed can survive for 2 months.
• ?
• N/A

Question 8

Black- Legged Tick and Western Black-Legged Tick

• Location
• Host Species
• Preferred Site
• Symptoms
• Life Cycle
• X-host ticks
• Transmission of..

Answer 8

Ixodes scapularis (BLT) and Ixodes pacificus (Westernn BLT)

• Ixodes scapulariis=Eastern-half USA, prefers wooded areas w/ moist leaf matter; Pacificus= Western-half USA, prefers forests and coastal scrub/high brush and open grasslands.
• Small rodents –> deer
• ??
• ??
• 3 host tick: Larvae/nymphs= small rodents, Adults= Deer. Life cycle takes 2 years to complete. See Table 1: Peak Activity
• Borrelia burgdorferi
• Anaplasma phagocytophilum(dogs, horses, humans)