Pruritic ectoparasitic disease Flashcards
Ectoparasites other than fleas
Pediculosis
- louse infestation
- uncommon in dogs and cats
- Felicola sp (cat): chewing/biting
- Trichodectes canis (dog): chewing/biting
- Linognathus setosus (dog): sucking
Pediculosis: surface, burrowing or deep?
- surface
Pediculosis: Brief life cycle summary
Whole life cycle on host -> easy to kill
Can live off host?
- Adults survive 3 days only
- May have nits in bedding -> indirect infestation
Pediculosis: host specific?
- yes
Pediculosis: contagious?
- yes
Pediculosis: zoonotic?
- no
Pediculosis: classical clinical signs
- Often asymptomatic
- may see: poor coat, scaling, papules, crusts, variable pruritus
- Heavy infestation may -> anaemia, lethargy
Pediculosis: dx
- Coat combing/brush
- Hair plucks for eggs?
Pediculosis: importance
- Uncommon
- Dz of debilitation
Pediculosis: tx
- Relatively easy as life-cycle entirely on host
- Many flea adulticides effective, e.g. imidacloprid, fipronil, selamectin – all licensed, isoxazolines - not licensed but likely effective
- Treat in-contacts also
- Environmental cleaning recommended
Arachnids
- Sarcoptic mange (dog)
- Cheyletiellosis (dog, cat)
- Otodectes (dog, cat)
- Neotrombicula autumnal (dog, cat)
- Canine demodicosis
- Feline demodicosis
Sarcoptic mange: parasite name
- Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis
- Round mite, 8 short legs
Sarcoptic mange: Surface/burrowing/deep?
- Burrow in stratum corneum
Sarcoptic mange: Brief life cycle summary
- Where lifecycle occurs: on host
- Can survive off host? Yes. – How long? 1-2 days
Sarcoptic mange: Host-specific?
- Wildlife reservoir = Fox
Sarcoptic mange: Contagious?
- Yes, highly
Sarcoptic mange: Zoonotic?
- Yes
Sarcoptic mange: Classical clinical signs
- Intense pruritus
- Papules and crusts, esp pinnal margins, elbows, hocks, sternum but other areas also affected
- 80% show pinnal pedal reflex (hindleg scratches when pinnal lesions rubbed) – not 100% specificity
Sarcoptic mange: Diagnostic tests
- Superficial skin scrapings: NB 25-50% sensitivity, high risk false negatives
- IgG serology (ELISA): available but potential for false +ves and false –ves so uncommonly used. NB seroconversion takes 4 weeks so don’t sample too early
- Therapeutic trial justified if disease suspected
Sarcoptic mange: Management
Acaracidal treatment to animals:
- Sarolaner, afoxolaner, fluralaner (ie selected isoxazolines) licensed
- Also selamectin, moxidectin
- Treat in-contacts also
- Treatments very effective but can take several weeks to respond - warn owner
Other actions:
- +/- short course corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone) or oclacitinib (off label) to control pruritus if needed – NB pruritus may increase as mites die
- Contagious to other dogs: avoid contact
- Decontaminate or destroy fomites such as bedding, brushes
- Treat environment, e.g. environmental flea spray
Zoonotic! - advise owner
Cheyletiellosis: Parasite name
- Cheyletiella spp
- Heart-shaped body, 8 long legs
- Accessory mouthparts terminate in prominent hooks
- Other spp of this genus affects rabbits
Cheyletiellosis: Surface/burrowing/deep?
- Surface
Cheyletiellosis: Brief life cycle summary
- Where lifecycle occurs: on host
- Can live/survive off host? Yes
Cheyletiellosis: Host-specific?
- No
Cheyletiellosis: Contagious?
- Yes, very
Cheyletiellosis: Zoonotic?
- Yes