Parasitology - Insects

Question 1

Important ectoparasite orders: (3)

Answer 1

Fleas (Siphonaptera) - suck blood from mammals and birds

Lice (Phthiraptera) - spend entire life cycles on their hosts (mammals and birds)

Flies, mosquitoes (Diptera) - discomfort, infestation and vectors of disease

Question 2

What are ‘infestations’ caused by?

Answer 2

Parasites that live on the external surface of a host or in the skin

Question 3

Vector

Answer 3

Organism, that transmits an infective organism from one host to another

Question 4

Mechanical vector

Answer 4

• Transmits infective organisms directly to a recipient host without development or multiplication of the organism occurring
• NOT essential in life cycle of infective organism

Question 5

Biological vector

Answer 5

• Infective organisms either undergo development or multiply or both before being transmitted to the recipient host.
• ESSENTIAL for the life cycle of the infective organisM

Also called competent vectors or intermediate hosts

Question 6

Pathology & pathogenesis of ectoparasites

Answer 6

• Direct trauma
• Removal of metabolites & blood
• Allergic irritation & dermatitis
• Interference with function or behaviour

Question 7

Flystrike

Answer 7

• Dermal infestation of live vertebrates by larvae of flies

- 90% of cases in sheep caused by Lucilia cuprina

Question 8

Treatment and control of cattle tick infection

Answer 8

• Quarantine of property
• Spell pasture
• Tick resistant cattle
• Vaccine
• Treat with drench