Lab Specimens (In Jars) Flashcards
A large number of this parasite in cats may cause intestinal obstruction.
Identify the parasite. What is its common name? Site of infection?

Toxocara cati.
Common roundworm
Adults in small intestine
These worms were recovered from a dog.
Identify the parasite. What is the human significance of this parasite?

Toxocara canis.
Visceral larval migrans
These worms were recovered from a dog.
Identify the parasite. What is the diagnostic stage?
What is the vector? Which life cycle stage is carried by the vector?

Dirofilaria immitis
Diagnostic Stage: L1 (microfilariae)
Vector: Mosquito carries L3 mff

This parasite was recovered from a fecal float of a dog. The adults cause acute or chronic hemorrhagic anemia.
Identify the parasite. What is its common name? In what age group is this parasite common?

Ancylostoma caninum (hookworm)
Common in dogs under 1 year of age

This parasite was recovered from a dog. The owner was complaining of fleas.
Identify the parasite. How did the dog become infected? What is the preferred diagnostic method?

Dipylidium caninum
Dog becomes infected by eating a flea or louse containing cysticercoids.
Scotch tape method is preferred

This parasite is seen in the large intestine of canines, swines, and ruminants.
Identify the parasite. What is the infective stage? Describe the appearance of the egg.

Trichuris spp.
Infective stage: L1 in egg
Egg is lemon-shaped

This parasite was recovered from a horse after the owner noticed broken hair at the tailhead from the horse rubbing on the fence.
Identify the parasite. What is the site of infection? What is the infective stage?

Oxyuris equi
Site of infection: adults in large intestine
Infective stage: L3
These adult parasites were recovered from a horse at necropsy.
Identify the parasite

Strongylus spp.

Eggs of this parasite in feces of foals under 6 wk age are due to coprophagia. Clinical signs include diarrhea, weight loss, & edema.
Identify the parasite.
Small Strongyles
Right?! It looks like nothing’s in there! I swear I’m not going crazy.
The adults of this equine parasite are often found in the peritoneal cavity.
Identify the parasite. Where would you find larvae? What is the intermediate host for this parasite?

Setaria equina
Larvae can be found in the eye.
Intermediate host: Mosquito
This equine parasite was recovered from the small intestine of a horse. The owner was complaining that the horse had been coughing frequently.
Identify the parasite. What caused the coughing? What is the infective stage for this parasite?

Parascaris equorum
Coughing was a result of hepatic-tracheal migration of the L2.
Infective stage: L2 in egg
This equine parasite was recovered from the cecum of an awesome horse.
Identify the parasite. How did such an awesome horse get this parasite? Is it a nematode, cestode, or trematode (the parasite, not the horse)?

Anoplocephala perfoliata
The horse ate a mite with a cysticercoid (…dumb horse).
Anoplocephala perfoliata is a cestode
This parasite was recovered from a sheep after the farmer was complaining about diarrhea (from the sheep). The farm is located in a temperate area in North America.
Identify the parasite. What is the common name? Where does larval development occur? What is the infective stage?

Nematodirus spp.
Long neck bankrupt worm
Larval development all occurs within the egg.
L3 is the infective stage.
This parasite was recovered from the abomasum of a cow after presenting with anemia & bottle jaw.
Identify the parasite. What is its common name? What is the appropriate diagnostic method?

Haemonchus placei
Barber pole worm
Fecal egg count, fecal culture
Gross. A cow presented with hepatitis cysticercosa.
Identify the parasite. What is/are the final host(s)? What is the site of infection for final hosts? Intermediate hosts?

Taenia hydatigena
Final hosts: dogs/canids
Site of infection: Adults in small intestine of dog
Site of infection: Cysticerci in peritoneal cavity of herbivores
This cestode was recovered from the small intestine of a goat.
Identify the parasite. How did the goat get this parasite? Which equine parasite is this very similar to?

Moniezia spp. (Milk tapeworm)
Goat ate a mite infected with cysticercoid
Almost identical to Anoplocephala spp. in horses, just a different host
This ascarid was recovered from the small intestine of a pig.
Identify the parasite. What is the common name? What is the diagnostic stage? What is the infective stage?
What is caused by migrating L2 and L3?

Ascaris suum (swine roundworm)
Diagnostic stage: egg
Infective stage: L2 in egg
Causes “milk spots” on the liver
This parasite was just found between the toes of one of Ross’s kennel dogs.
Identify the parasite. What is the common name? What is this parasite known to transmit?

Rhipicephalus sanguineus
Brown dog tick or kennel tick
Trasmits Babesia & Ehrlichia
This parasite was found in the wool of a sheep. Identify the parasite.
What is its common name? Which stage is clearly visible on the fleece?At what time of the year are heavy infestations seen?

Melophagus ovinus
Sheep ked; “sheep tick”
Pupae are clearly visible on fleece.
Heavy infestations are seen in autumn and winter.
REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT A TICK!!!!
This parasite was removed from the neck of a dog, using forceps.
Identify the parasite. What is the final host?

Cuterebra spp.
Rabbits and rodents are final host.
This parasite was found in a lump of the back of a cow in Spring.
Identify the parasite. What is the common name. What life stage is present here?

Hypoderma spp.
Warble fly.
Third instars (“cattle grubs”) are present here
A sheep presented with nasal discharge and sneezing. This parasite was recovered.
Identify the parasite. What is the common name? Where does the 3rd stage larva pupate?

Oestrus ovis
Sheep nasal bot fly.
L3 pops out of the nose and pupates on the ground
The infestation of living animals with the parasites pictured is known as:

Myiasis: the infestation of living animals with the larvae of dipteran flies
This is the smallest of the blood-sucking muscids. It is usually found on the back, sides, and abdomen of cattle, and spends the majority of its time on the animal.
Identify the parasite. What is its common name?

Haematobia irritans
Horn fly
