organisms that live in, on or with another organism (host). they require a host in order to survive
What is a host?
an animal or plant in which a parasite lives
What is an intermediate host?
a host which is normally used by a parasite over the course of its lifecycle and in which it may multiply asexually
What is an ectoparasite?
a type of parasite that lives on the surface of its host
ectoparasites typically feed on the hosts blood, skin or bodily fluids. Their presence can cause discomfort, irritation or more serious health issues such as infections or disease transmission
What are some of the different types of ectoparasites?
fleas, lice, ticks and mites
How do fleas survive?
by sucking the blood of their host, they can suck up to 15 times their body weight in blood
Can fleas fly?
no, but they can jump up to 18cm
Fleas can lay between 20 and 50 eggs a day
How are fleas transmitted?
they are more common in the summer, preferring the heat. They use their antennae to detect heat, vibration, carbon dioxide, shadows and changes in air current - all of which signal to a host being near
Adult fleas live for several weeks on a pet. If food is available, they can live for 100 days as an adult, else, they last a week
Fleaeggs fall off of a pet, into the garden, bedding, carpet and wherever else the animal spends its time.
Flea eggs take 2 to 5 days to hatch if on a host/suitable conditions
Flea eggshatch into?
larvae
Flea larvae feed on organic matter such as skin flakes and flea faeces
Flea larvae grow to form a cocoon and pupate
What does pupate mean?
flea larvae will transform, when the time is right, into an adult
Flea pupae can survive a long time, being protected by the cocoon. They can cocoon up to Two weeks , but can stay dormant for up to two years
spot on treatments, oral medications, flea shampoos or combs
how can fleas be prevented?
monthly preventative medications, regular grooming, environmental control
Lice are species specific
Lice cause Severe itching, and skin problems like inflammation and hair loss
Lice cannot survive off of the host , so they won’t ever be found in the pets environment
How are lice transmitted?
direct contact, they cannot jump and can only crawl
How do ticks attach to a host?
they will climb onto a piece of vegetation and wait for a passing human or animal
Ticks can transmit Lyme disease to both animals and people
How can ticks be prevented ?
spot on treatments
How must a tick be removed?
using tick removers, pulling them off leaves the head under the skin, which causes an abscess to form
How is scabies caused?
by mites that spend their life burrowed in the outer layers of your pets skin
mites cause pets to itch, which leads to raw, painful lesions caused by self inflicted scratching or chewing
how can mites be treated?
there are oral, injectable and skin treatments. Antibiotics are used to treat secondary infections
What are endoparasites?
A type of parasite that lives inside the body of an animal
What are some examples of endoparasites?
roundworm and tapeworm
What are the symptoms of roundworm ?
pot belly, diarrhoea, vomit, cough, losing weight, lose condition and healthy shine to the coat
some pets with roundworm will not show symptoms for several months. This is because the worms are dormant within the body, or that they are still eggs, or that there are not enough to cause a notable change in your pets behaviour or nourishment
Roundworm can be treated with worming tablets or injections
What are the symptoms of tapeworm?
dried, cream coloured segments in faeces, or in the fur under the tail. Biting or licking of the anus, dragging hind quarters across the floor
How is tapeworm transmitted?
injesting the immediate host containing larvae. Tape worm eggs are frequently injected through adult fleas. Scavenging may also lead to being infected
Tapeworms are easily treated with worming tablets or injections