Parasitology slide set 4/fleas

Question 1

Infectious

Answer 1

caused by or capable of being communicated by infection

Question 2

Infective

Answer 2

capable of producing infection

Question 3

Pathogenesis

Answer 3

development of morbid conditions or disease; more specifically the cellular events and reactions and other pathological mechanisms occurring in the development of disease

Question 4

Direct life cycle

Answer 4

only 1 host

Question 5

Indirect life cycle

Answer 5

more than one host

Question 6

Definitive host

Answer 6

host in which the parasite attians sexual (reproductive) maturity

Question 7

Intermediate host

Answer 7

Serves as a temporary but NECESSARY environment for completion of immature stages of the life cycle

Question 8

Paratenic host

Answer 8

aka transport host

Host not needed to complete life cycle but utilized as vehicle for reaching a necessary host

Question 9

Aberrant host

Answer 9

an animal not usually used as a host by a parasite

Question 10

Reservoir host

Answer 10

infected animals which serve as a source of infection for others (includes all infectious agents, not just parasites)

Question 11

Vector

Answer 11

arthropods or other invertebrates which serve as hosts and carriers for parasites (may be intermediate or transport host)

Question 12

Terminology for hosts from the parasite’s point of view

Answer 12

definitive
intermediate
paratenic

Question 13

Terminology for hosts from the host’s point of view

Answer 13

normal
aberrant
vector
reservoir

Question 14

Prepatent period

Answer 14

(infection to egg)
Time required following to reach reproductive maturity following infection of the definitive host; not the same as the generation time (egg to egg)

Question 15

Parasitic infection is ______ to disease

Answer 15

not equivalent

Question 16

Complete metamorphosis

Answer 16

larva bears no resemblance to the adult (ex. flies, fleas)

Question 17

Incomplete metamorphosis

Answer 17

larva looks like a small adult

juvenile hormone inhibits metamorphosis (lice)

Question 18

Order Siphonaptera

Answer 18

Fleas
macroscopic, usually brown
wingless
laterally compressed
complete metamorphosis

Question 19

Ctenocephalides felis (felis) host

Answer 19

dogs, cats, ferrets, occasionally other animals

most common flea off cats and dogs

Question 20

Environmental stages of C. felis prefer

Answer 20

high humidity and warm temperatures

Question 21

C. felis larva

Answer 21

slender, white, 2-5 mm
eat organic debris but require flea feces
limited movement
stay in this stage for about 1 week
hate low humidity

Question 22

C. felis pupa

Answer 22

sticky, silky cocoon
if warm and humid 5 days to adult
adult can stay in pupa a few months

Question 23

Minimum life cycle under perfect conditions of C. felis

Answer 23

Egg hatching 2 days
Larva 6 days
Pupa 6 days
so Total of 14 days

Question 24

C. felis overwinter survival

Answer 24

No stage of the life cycle can survive sustained cold weather, killed by 10 days at 37F
Fleas overwinter in your house and reservoir hosts (raccoons and opossums)

Question 25

Clinical importance of fleas

Answer 25

common cause of vet visits
characteristic distribution: tailhead, thighs, abd, neck
Scratching, hair loss

Question 26

Range of reactions to C. felis

Answer 26

Allergic type rxns to flea saliva antigens
Pruritus ranges from mild to extreme (flea bite hypersensitivity)
Possible cause of hot spots
Vector for tapeworms and cat scratch fever
Anemia

Question 27

Adulticides for fleas

Answer 27

imidocloprid and fipronil can break the cycle in some situations by themselves
dinotefuran, nitenpyram, selamectin, indoxacarb, spinosad, pyrethroids, pyrethrins, natural products

Question 28

Flea control products that are not effective

Answer 28

ultrasonic collars, brewer’s yeast, garlic

organophosphate flea collars are not very effective

Question 29

Fleas are ______ species specific

Answer 29

generally