Parasites

    Cards (23)

    • Parasites are eukaryotic organisms that live off another organism to benefit the parasite
    • What do you call a parasite that lives on the host?
      Ectoparasite
    • What do you call a parasite that lives in the host?

      Endoparasite
    • Examples of ectoparasites?

      Flies, lice, fleas, mites and ticks
    • Ectoparasites cause the animal discomfort and can act as vectors of disease
    • Examples of endoparasites?

      Worms, tapeworms, roundworms
    • The effects of endoparasites depend on the species
    • Most parasites reproduce asexually, but can switch to sexual to encourage diversity and to remain infectious
    • Some parasites reproduce by laying eggs
    • What is parasitology?

      The study of parasites
    • What is an intermediate host?

      The host other than the definitive host on which part of the parasite's life-cycle takes place
    • What is a transport host?

      The host which transports parasite from one host to the next, without playing any part in its life-cycle
    • What is a final / definitive host?

      The host in / on which the parasite reproduces
    • What animals do fleas affect as a final host?

      Dogs, cats and poultry
    • What is the most common flea?
      C.Felis
    • Features of fleas?
      Wingless, visible to the naked eye, laterally compressed body, pale brown, shiny, long 3rd pair of legs for leaping
    • How long does it take a flea egg to hatch?

      1-6 days
    • How long do fleas remain larvae?

      5-11 days
    • What are some symptoms of fleas?

      Visible signs of infestation, scratching more than normal, over-grooming, anaemia
    • What are some treatment methods for fleas?

      Flea collar, oral tablets, topical liquids, environmental flea repellents
    • Features of tapeworms?

      Flat, 6 inches long
    • Broken off segments of tapeworms can appear in faeces and look like grains of rice
    • How are tapeworm spread?

      Cat eats a flea which is carrying tapeworm larva which grows into a tapeworm in the intestines. End segments of the tapeworm which are excreted in faeces contain eggs, which fleas then eat.
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