B.1 Ectoparasites 1

Question 1

What are ectoparasites and give 4 examples.

Answer 1

Organisms that live on the skin e.g. fleas, lice, ticks and mites

Question 2

What are the signs and symptoms of ectoparasites ?

Answer 2

Itching
Scratching
Bites
Soreness

Question 3

Are these parasites life threatening ?

Answer 3

No but they are hosts for transmitted pathogens and diseases

Question 4

What phylum does ticks, mites, fleas and lice belong to ?

Answer 4

Phylum Arthropoda

Question 5

What is the class of fleas and lice ?

Answer 5

Insecta (insects)

Question 6

What is the class of ticks and mites ?

Answer 6

Arachnida (spiders)

Question 7

What are the common features of fleas, mites, ticks and lice ?

Answer 7

• All blood sucking parasites
• All live on the skin
• Hosts tend to be specific

Question 8

What is the most common ectoparasites in the UK

Answer 8

Lice

Question 9

Where are ticks usually distributed ?

Answer 9

Wooded areas such as scotland, wales, midlands

Question 10

How does a tick (lxodes ricinus) attach to host ?

Answer 10

• Questing (climbs tall grass and shrubs)
• Attach to a passing host who is usually hiking or playing in long grass

should inspect skin at the end of the day

Question 11

What are the signs of ticks ?

Answer 11

• Move up body to warm, sweaty places (top of legs, top of arms, bum, neck_
• They do not itch therefore identified by visual examination

Question 12

What are the pharmacological treatments for ticks ?

Answer 12

There are no pharmacological treatment

Physical removal only:

• usually tweezers or tick card
• do not squeeze or crush (do not want contents to enter bloodstream (infection risk))
• do not leave head behind
• do not burn off or use noxious means
• keep tick for positive identification