Parasites of Wildlife Flashcards
what parasites are common in fish-eating birds?
flukes
what parasites are common in bird-eating birds of prey?
coccidia
what parasites are common in birds of prey?
capillaria
what are hippoboscid flies?
common biting insects on birds
do heartworms negatively impact coyotes?
not that we can tell
no pathogenic changes
when do you treat wildlife for parasites?
if there is a problem associated with the parasite: weight loss and GI parasite
granulomatous abscess due to Trichomonas gallinae
what does Sarcoptes scabei cause?
scabies in foxes, coyotes, porcupines, black bears, fishers
different species-related variants
does Sarcoptes scabei typically cause population-level concerns?
no, worse in black bears right now
tends to cycle through population
what are the signs of scabies in wildlife?
same as in dogs: pruritis, alopecia, crusting
worse: emaciation, general debilitation from inability to hunt/forage
how do you treat scabies in wildlife?
treatment clearly indicated in individual animals presented to wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians
ivermectin effective in multiple species
do not attempt treatment by baiting
what is a zoonotic parasite of raccoons?
Baylisascaris procyonis
how can Baylisascaris procyonis eggs be destroyed?
very high temperatures only
who does Baylisascaris procyonic affect?
anyone who is not a raccoon
in what raccoons is Baylisascaris procyonis known to occur in?
raccoons across the US
has been documented in captive-reared raccoons
at what age can raccoons begin passing Baylisascaris procyonis eggs?
8 weeks
how long do Baylisascaris procyonis eggs take to become infectious after being defecated?
2-4 weeks
what are Dermacentor albipictus?
moose tick or winter tick
why are Dermacentor albipictus booming right now?
climate change
weather from october through january usually regulate the tick numbers
why are Dermacentor albipictus important?
hair loss in moose: moose have no defense against large infestations
high calf mortality due to severe anemia
who is Toxoplasma affecting in population health?
southern sea otters: up to 70% of those captured in high risk coastal areas in CA have been exposed
28% of deaths
how do sea otters get exposed to Toxoplasma?
oocysts in felid feces carried in freshwater runoff, accumulate in invertebrates and consumed by otters
high density of humans and pet cats leads to more otters being exposed
what does Toxoplasma in sea otters lead to?
encephalitis
myocarditis
what avian species are hardest hit by exposure to new variants of malaria?
island species
some Hawaiian species have been significantly affected
what is a common parasite in the blood of birds that is not commonly treated?
hemoprotozoan parasites
