infectious challenges Flashcards
(21 cards)
what is a parasite
an organism that uses a hosts nutrients without giving anything back
what is an endo-parasite
lives within the body of the organism
what is an ecto-parasite
lives outside the body of the host
are tapeworms endo or ecto parasites
endoparasites
how are tapeworms diagnosed in horses+ why is it unreliable
- faecal egg detection = not finding eggs doesn’t mean they aren’t present
- sedimentation and floatation method
describe the features of a tapeworm
- head (scolex) contains 4 suckers + hooks
- flattened tail (strobila) segmented
what is the life cycle of a tapeworm in horses
- horse ingests cysticercoid infected mite
- cysticercoid develops into tapeworm in intestine
- tapeworm eggs laid in horse faeces
- eggs eaten by mite which crawls onto vegetation
what damage can tapeworms cause
rectal prolapse
what can be used to remove 70% of tapeworms
- a dose of pyrantel pamoate
- however a double dose may harm pregnant / breeding animals
What is the pork tapeworm
- Up to 7M long - coils up
- scolex with double row of hooks
What is the definitive host of tapeworms
- Human or alternative host = pig
What is the impact of tapeworms
Large cysts in the brain + other organs = can be life threatening
What are the causes of worm infections
Uncooked / contaminated meat
Untreated sewage
What is a way to prevent worms in animals
- disposing human faeces away from livestock
What are some treatments for worms in animals
- compounds that are toxic to worms
- alternative methods due to parasitic drug resistance
What are the failures of de-wormers
- overuse of de wormers = immunity
-> next generation also resistant
What causes sheep scab
Highly contagious - mite feeding on animal skin
- sheep scratch at affected areas
What happens to those with sheep scab
- large portion of fleece lost
- skin hardens with raw patches = open to bacterial infection
- lack of rest due to irritation
- advanced cases = death
What is the life cycle of psoroptes ovis
- spends entire life cycle on host
- 122 days from egg to egg
- asymptomatic sheep spread infestation to others
What are the economic costs of sheep scab
loss of
- wool
- leather
- milk
- meat
- reproduction
Death of sheep
Cost of treatment
Cost of control
What are the treatments and control for sheep scab
- scabicides = treat all the flock at the same time
- treat sheep twice
