Parasites3

Question 1

Giardia spp.

Answer 1

• Giardiasis
• Motile (feeding) form lives in small intestine
• Cyst form is passed in feces
• Incubation period is 3 to 35 days

Question 2

Importance, Diagnosis, Transmission Giardia

Answer 2

• Importance→diarrhea
• Diagnosis→ Fecal direct smear with iodine
• Transmitted by ingestion of contaminated feed or water.

Question 3

Treatment of Giardia

Answer 3

Metronidazole (Flagyl®)

Fecal antigen test available

Question 4

Syndrome of Giardiasis

Answer 4

 Human– usually asymptomatic
• – nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating
 Animal– subclinical
 diarrhea, wt. loss

Question 5

Occurrence of Giardiasis

Answer 5

 Most common parasitic infection in developed countries- rate of infection is
 1-30% in surveyed stool samples

Question 6

Control and prevention of Giardiasis

Answer 6

 Personal hygiene
 Protect water supplies from contamination w/ feces
 Filter public water supplies

Question 7

Babesia canis

Answer 7

• Bloodborne parasite

* Microscopic parasite visible under high power magnification in a blood smear

Question 8

Importance, Diagnosis, Control of Babesia canis

Answer 8

• Importance- can cause hemolytic anemia
• Diagnosis- stained blood smear, Ab test
• Control- treat infected animals, tick control

Question 9

Cryptosporidiosis

Answer 9

• Disease caused by a protozoan parasite capable of infecting many animals
• Causative organism: Cryptosporidium parvum
Smaller than giardia cyts
• Incubation period is 3 to 7 days

Question 10

Occurrence, Transmission of cryptosporidiosis

Answer 10

• Occurrence- Infection found in 1-4.5% of stool samples surveyed in the U.S. and Europe
• Transmission- Ingestion of oocysts passed in animal or human feces

Question 11

Diagnosis, Treatment of cryptosporidiosis

Answer 11

• Diagnosis- Microscopic examination of feces for oocysts, fecal antigen test
• Treatment- Nitazoxanide, supportive care

Question 12

Control and prevention of cryptosporidiosis

Answer 12

o Good personal hygiene
o Dispose of feces in a sanitary manner
o Filter public water supplies
o Immunocompromised individuals should avoid contact w/ diarrheic animals or people

Question 13

Toxoplasmosis

Answer 13

• Protozoal disease transmitted from cats to humans
• Causative organism: Toxoplasma gondii
• Incubation period is 1 to 4 weeks (average 7-14 days)

Question 14

Syndrome of Toxoplasmosis

Answer 14

•	Human-- usually asymptomatic
	fever, swollen lymph nodes
	cardiac, pulmonary, and CNS dz.
	birth defects
•	Animals-- usually subclinical
	  -- abortion in sheep, pigs, and goats

Question 15

Mortality, Transmission of Toxoplasmosis

Answer 15

• Mortality- Low, higher risk for immunocompromised individuals, newborns, fetus
• Transmission
o Ingestion of oocysts in cat feces
o Ingestion of cysts from infected meat

Question 16

Diagnosis, Treatment of Toxoplasmosis

Answer 16

• Diagnosis- Serology

* Treatment- Antiparasitics

Question 17

Control and prevention of Toxoplasmosis

Answer 17

o Avoid contact w/ cat feces or contaminated soil

o Cook meat thoroughly

Question 18

External Parasites

Answer 18

• “Ectoparasites”
• Live or feed upon the skin of an animal
• Their presence is referred to as an “infestation”
• Two groups of arthropods are the most important external parasites= Insects and Arachnids

Question 19

Arachnids

Answer 19

• Ticks, mites
• Body divided into 2 segments: a fused head/thorax and an abdomen
• 8 legs originate from the abdomen of the adult parasite

Question 20

Insects

Answer 20

• Lice, fleas, flies

• Body divided into 3 segments: head, thorax, abdomen
• 6 legs originate from the thorax

Question 21

Damage caused by external parasites

Answer 21

o Irritation- biting and crawling
o Loss of body conditionà decrease food intake
o Anemia- blood loss
o Disease transmission- Ehrlichiosis, lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever

Question 22

Diagnosis of infestation of external parasites

Answer 22

o Some visible to the naked eye

o Some easily collected by skin scraping for microscopic identification

Question 23

Transmission, Diagnosis, Treatment of Giardiasis

Answer 23

• Transmission- Ingestion of cysts passed in the feces of infected humans or animals
• Diagnosis- Microscopic examination of feces for cysts, fecal antigen test
• Treatment- Antiparasitics

Question 24

Sarcocystosis

Answer 24

• Disease caused by a protozoan parasite found in beef or pork
• Causative organism: Sarcocystis spp.
• Incubation period is 2 weeks

Question 25

Syndrome of Sarcocystosis

Answer 25

o Human-- usually asymptomatic o nausea, diarrhea, discomfort o Animal-- subclinical

Question 26

Transmission of Sarcocystosis

Answer 26

o Ingestion of infected raw or undercooked beef or pork | o Ingestion of oocysts in human feces

Question 27

Occurrence, Diagnosis, Treatment of Sarcocystosis

Answer 27

* Occurrence- Common in underdeveloped countries w/ poor hygiene * Diagnosis- Microscopic examination of feces for oocysts * Treatment- Antiparasitics

Question 28

Control and prevention of Sarcocystosis

Answer 28

o Good personal hygiene o Prevent contamination of livestock feed w/ human feces o Cook meat well

Question 29

Syndrome of cryptosporidiosis

Answer 29

o Human-- asymptomatic  -- anorexia, nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps o Animal-- watery diarrhea in calves 1-2 weeks old, can cause death

Question 30

Seasonal variation of external parasites

Answer 30

o Ectoparasites that spend their entire life cycle on the host are a problem year round o Ectoparasites that spend part of their life cycle off the host need warmth to proliferate more effectively

Question 31

Ctenocephalides spp.

Answer 31

* “Flea” * Adult is 3-4 mm flattened laterally w/ powerful legs for leaping, piercing/ sucking mouth parts * Eggs 0.5 mm white, oval

Question 32

Importance, Diagnosis, Control of Ctenocephalides

Answer 32

* Importance- Irritation and itching, loss of body condition, flea allergy dermatitis, disease transmission * Diagnosis- Fleas and flea dirt in hair coat * Control- Treat host and environment w/insecticide

Question 33

Plague

Answer 33

• One of the oldest diseases affecting man • Caused by a bacteria maintained in rodent populations o Yersinia pestis • Incubation period is 2 to 6 days

Question 34

Syndrome of Plague

Answer 34

o Human-- fever, chills, myalgia, sore throat, headache  lymph node enlargement (bubonic)  septicemia w/ development of pulmonary disease o Animal– rodents become ill and die  cats may develop fever, dyspnea, nasal discharge, swollen lymph nodes, septicemia

Question 35

Mode of transmission of Plague

Answer 35

o Bite of an infectd rodent flea o Handling tissues or fluids of infected animals o Inhalation of airborne bacteria from cats or humans w/ pulmonary disease

Question 36

Diagnosis and Treatment of Plague

Answer 36

* Diagnosis- Culture of lymph node aspirate, blood, sputum, CSF * Treatment- Antibiotics

Question 37

Control and prevention of Plague

Answer 37

o Prevent human contact w/ wild rodents o Use insecticides/ repellents when entering wildlife habitats o Wear gloves when hunting or handling wildlife o Keep dogs and cats from hunting wild rodents o Vaccinate individuals at risk

Question 38

Otodectescynotis

Answer 38

* “Ear Mite” | * Adult is 0.4 mm, dorsoventrally flattened w/ 8 legs

Question 39

Importance, Diagnosis, Control of Otodectescynotis

Answer 39

* Importance- External otitis * Diagnosis- Examine debris from external ear canal * Control- Clean ears, apply miticide

Question 40

Cheyletiella spp.

Answer 40

* “Fur Mite” * Adult is 0.4 mm, has hook-like palpi * Importance- Alopecic dermatitis * Diagnosis- Skin scraping