Vetinary Pharamacy - Ecto and Endoparasites

Question 1

What is a Definitive host?

Answer 1

the host that holds the adult (reproducing) stage of the parasite

Question 2

What is a Intermediate host?

Answer 2

the host that holds the larval stages of the parasite and is necessary for the parasite’s development

Question 3

What is a Paratenic host?

Answer 3

: a host that can maintain stages of the lifecycle but is not necessary for the parasite’s development

Question 4

what is the Prepatent period?

Answer 4

time from infection of the definitive host until reproduction starts and eggs/larvae are released from the host

Question 5

What is a zoonotic infection?

Answer 5

infection which affects people and animals

Question 6

Describe the life cycle of a flea

Answer 6

Adult fleas stay on host until they die
Female flea lays eggs after 24 hours and can lay around 25 to 50 eggs a day
1. Flea dirt and eggs
2. Larvae L1
3. Larvae L2 - Flea larvae move away from light deep into carpets and cracks in flooring where they feed on flea dirt and moult from L1 to L2 to L3
4. Larvae L3
5. Pupae - larvae spin a protective cocoon and become a pupa developing into an adult flee
Stimulated by temp, vibration and CO2, young adults emerge and acquire the host
6. First blood meal within minutes

Question 7

What is the diagnosis of fleas?

Answer 7

Diagnosis

• Fast-moving and often difficult to find: look for ‘flea dirt’ (small black specks in the pet’s coat), which consist of digested blood excreted by the fleas
• Use fine-toothed comb over a wet piece of white paper, flea dirt which falls onto the wet surface dissolves into red/brown patches
• Some flea allergic pets are so sensitive they quickly groom off and swallow the fleas, so just because no fleas are found on the pet, does not necessarily mean no fleas are present

Question 8

How do you control fleas?

Answer 8

Methods of control:

1) Kill the adult (adulticides, kill within 24 hours) and/or prevent the development of eggs and larvae (insect growth regulators)
2) On-animal and/or environmental treatments

Range of formulations, containing different active ingredients or combinations of active ingredients:

1) For the pet: spot-on for long persistent efficacy (e.g. fipronil, imidacloprid), oral (e.g. nitenpyram), spray, collar/powder/shampoo (e.g. permethrin compounds), injectable
2) 2) For the environment: sprays (e.g. permethrin +/- (S)-methroprene), foggers

Integrated flea control = use of multiple different approaches to attack problem from several angles

1. Effective and long-lasting adulticide to kill fleas on the pet
2. An IGR to prevent development of eggs, larvae and pupae in the home
3. Mechanical control (regular vacuuming, hot washing pet bedding )

Question 9

What are Insecticidal molecules effective against fleas?

Answer 9

• Pyrethroids: permethrin (toxic to cats)
• Neonicotinoids: imidacloprid, nitenpyram
• Phenylpyrazoles: fipronil, pyriprole
• Oxadiazines: only POM-V
• Macrocyclic lactones (spinosyn group): only POM-V
• Macrocyclic lactones (avermectins/milbemycins group): only POM-V
• Isoxazolines: only POM-V
• Organophosphates & carbamates: not widely used anymore
• IGRs: – Analogues of the insect juvenile hormone (prevents flea eggs from developing into fleas): (S)-methroprene, pyriproxyfen – Inhibitor of the synthesis of chitin: lufenuron

Question 10

How does Fipronil work (fleas)?

Answer 10

Different flea products work in different ways. Fipronil causes hyperexcitation, making the dying fleas more visible as they bounce through the coat and rise to the tip of the hair, so it is a sign the product is working

Question 11

What is used to treat fleas in ferrets?

Answer 11

Fipronil (S)-methoprene

Question 12

What is used to treat fleas in rabbits?

Answer 12

Imidacloprid

Question 13

How can you get rid of a flea infestation?

Answer 13

Need to treat for at least 3 months to resolve the issue (pupal window)

Must treat all pets in the household with an appropriate product even if fleas only seen on one animal

Must treat environment as well as the pet with a house spray such as Frontline HomeGard Main reason for lack of resolution is poor compliance

Question 14

What are the most common reason to see fleas after treatment?

Answer 14

1.	Compliance 
• Product incorrectly applied 
• Product not applied frequently enough 
• Gaps in treatment 
• Dog bathed too frequently (product washed off) 
• Wrong dose used (underdose) 
2.	“Hitchhiker” fleas 
• New fleas picked up from an outdoor reservoir
3. Pupal window 
Household infestation

Question 15

What are the ways that chewing lice and sucking lice are transmissioned?

Answer 15

• direct or indirect contact (bedding, brush)

Question 16

What are the clinial signs of chewing lice and sucking lice?

Answer 16

Clinical signs: poorly groomed coat, presence of eggs (nits) or adults, excessive itching and rubbing resulting in self-inflicted skin damage, pet can be restless and bad tempered Diagnosis: close inspection and detection of adults or eggs (nits) within the hair coat

Question 17

How can you control chewing lice and sucking lice?

Answer 17

Control: insecticide (fipronil, imidacloprid (dog only)), regular washing of bedding and grooming equipment

Question 18

Describe the life cycle of chewing lice.

Answer 18

Lice feed on epidermal scales and sabaceous secretions, also feed on blood
Adults attach themselves to the hair and develop a complete life cycle

1. Females lay eggs which attach to host hairs
2. Eggs hatch and release nymphs which look like adults but are much smaller
3. Nymphs moult and gradullay grow until reaching the adult stage

Question 19

Describe the life cycle of sucking lice.

Answer 19

Adults and nymphs can move to new hosts or remain on same host to maintain their life cycle. most transfers occur during direct contact of hosts
Adults have peircing/sucking mouthparts and they feed on blood

1. Females attach eggs to host hairs
2. Eggs hatched and release nypmhs
3. Nymphs moult and gradullay grow until reaching the adult stage

Question 20

What is the most common specie of ticks in the uk?

Answer 20

Ixodes spp. Ixodes ricinus

Question 21

Describe Lyme disease:
Infectious agent
Vector
Affects
Clinical signs
Symptoms

Answer 21

• Infectious agent: Borrelia burgdorferi (bacteria)
• Vector: Ixodes spp. Ticks
• Affects: humans (zoonosis ) as well as dogs (cats rarely)
• Clinical signs in dogs: fever, lethargy, arthritis (stiffness and swelling)
• A dog vaccine against Lyme disease is licensed in the UK
• Symptoms in humans:
o – Early stage : tiredness, flu-like symptoms, muscle and joint pain, bull’s eye rash
o – Mid stage: numbness, localised paralysis
o – Late stage symptoms: chronic joint pain

Question 22

Describe Babesiosis:
Infectious agent
Vector
Affects
Clinical signs
Symptoms

Answer 22

• Infectious agent: Babesia (protozoa)
• Many species of Babesia, with different hosts, vectors, distribution and symptoms. Most common in western Europe is Babesia canis
• Vector: Dermacentor reticulatus (in UK), Rhipicephalus sanguineus
• Affects: dogs
• Clinical signs: fever, anaemia (pale gums, lethargy, loss of appetite), jaundice, red/brown urine

Question 23

How can you control ticks?

Answer 23

Key steps in successful tick control:

1) Check pets for ticks after a walk and remove safely using a tick remover (do not apply butter, oil, burn or freeze as this encourages disease transmission). It’s important all parts of the tick (incl. mouthparts) are removed, so refer to their the pet’s vet if needed.
2) Use acaricide to kill and/or repel ticks regularly all year round. Products kill ticks within 48 hours (repellent products POM-V only).
3) Disease prevention through vaccination of dogs against Lyme disease in endemic areas

Question 24

What are the tick treatments for dogs and cats?

Answer 24

Fipronil
Fipronil (S)-methoprene

Dog
Pyripole
Delatamethrin

Question 25

Describe Ear mite – Otodectes?

Answer 25

• Very common in young dogs and cats
• Transmission: close contact e.g. young animals pick up from mother
• Clinical signs: very itchy ears with brown waxy discharge
• Secondary inflammation/infection
• Diagnosis & treatment: vet only (POM-V macrocyclic lactones)

Question 26

Describe fur mite Cheyletiella

Answer 26

• Dogs/cats/rabbits/guinea pigs
• Lives on skin surface debris
• Transmission: direct contact
• Clinical signs: excessive scaling, slight pruritus
• Also called walking dandruff
• Diagnosis & treatment: vet only (lack of licensed products)
• zoonosis (itching, small red bumps)

Question 27

Describe manage mite

Answer 27

• Tunnel into upper layers of the skin
• Sarcoptes scabiei in dogs (common), Notoedres cati in cats (rare)
• Transmission: direct or indirect contact
• Clinical signs: intense pruritus in ears, muzzle, elbows, hocks; erythema, crusting, alopecia Diagnosis & treatment: vet only (POM-V macrocyclic lactones)
• Sarcoptes can infect humans – zoonosis
• Scabies in man: first signs between fingers, intensely itchy rash on arms, chest and abdomen

Question 28

Describe Demodex mites

Answer 28

Demodex mite

• Common in young dogs <2 years, rare in cats and older dogs
• Live in hair follicles
• Transmission: from mother to pup
• Can be found on asymptomatic carriers, older dogs can develop clinical disease if they get immunocompromised
• Clinical signs: dry alopecia patches, scaling, skin thickening – often non pruritis
• Diagnosis and treatment: vet only (POM-V macrolytic lactones).