The travelling pet Flashcards
Which 3 factors are leading to the rapid spread of parasitic diseases and their vectors
Increased:
- Pet travel
- Human migration
- Climate change
What are some of the main features of Babesia spp
- Apicomplexan protozoan parasite
- Similar to malaria
- Intra-erythrocyctic
- Transmitted by ticks
- Many species of Babesia: most are host-specific
Which two tick spp transmit Babesia canis?
- Dermacentor reticulatus
- Rhipicephalus sanguineus
Name the 3 morphological stages of Babesia spp
- Sporozoite
- Trophozoite
- Merozoite
Which of the 3 Babesia morphologies is the ‘divergent pair’?
Merozoite
What size is Babesia canis?
4-5um
Describe the life cycle of Babesia spp
- Merozoites divide by asexual binary fission in red blood cells
- Tick ingests the infected red blood cells
- Multiplication and sexual reproduction in the tick
- Dissemination of Babesia throughout the tissues into the ovaries: trans-ovarian transmission
- Infection passes onto new host by the next generation of ticks
- As the tick attaches and starts to feed, sporogony occurs in salivary glands
- Sporozoites injected into host with the tick saliva
- Sporozoites invade red blood cells and start to divide (merogony)
Describe Babesiosis disease and its clinical signs
- Acute, often fatal in naive dogs
- Anaemia arises from haemolysis
- Pale mucus membranes
- Depression
- Splenomegaly
How is Babesiosis diagnosed?
- History of recent travel
- Clinical signs
- Giemsa stained blood smear to identify merozoites
Which drug is used to treat Babesiosis?
Imidocarb
How is the travelling pet protected against Babesia?
Tick control: - Fipronil (Frontline) - Fluralaner (Bravecto) - Imidacloprid + flumethrin collar (Seresto) Prevent the tick from feeding
What type of protozoa is Leishmania?
Flagellated
How is Leishmania transmitted?
By sand-flies of the genus Phlembotomus spp
What is the spp of Leishmania that infects dogs?
Leishmania infantum
Describe human Leishmania disease
- Transmitted by the bite of infected sand flies
- Tropics, subtropics and southern Europe
- Cause of significant morbidity and mortality
- Cutaneous and visceral form