Veterinary Lab Techniques 15 Parasitology - Nematodes pt 2

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the lecture on Nematodes, beneficial for studying parasitology.

Threadworm

Order = Rhabditida

Strongyloides stercoralis

Commonly known as Intestinal threadworm, with definitive hosts being dogs, cats, and humans.

PPP of Strongyloides stercoralis

8-14 days.

Mode of infection for Strongyloides stercoralis

Skin penetration (L3) or ingestion of infective larvae.

Larvated egg

Indicates direct transmission.

Strongyloides stercoralis life cycle

Ova hatch in intestine, larvae move to feces, migrate to lungs, and are coughed up and swallowed.

Zoonotic disease associated with Strongyloides stercoralis

Major causative agent of strongyloidiasis in humans.

Heartworm

Order = Rhabditida.

Dirofilaria immitis

Commonly known as heartworm with definitive hosts being dogs, and occasionally cats and ferrets.

PPP of Dirofilaria immitis

6-8 months.

Clinical signs of heartworm in dogs

Syncope, sudden death, coughing, vomiting, weight loss, dyspnea, lethargy, anorexia.

Mode of infection for Dirofilaria immitis

Infective mosquitoes.

Life cycle of Dirofilaria immitis

Microfilaria develops in mosquitoes and is transferred to dogs during feeding.

Blood test method for Dirofilaria immitis

ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) antigen test.

Microfilariae detection in dogs

Identified microscopically via several methods.

Dirofilaria immitis in cats

Cats are more resistant to infection and often have fewer adult heartworms.

Diagnosis difficulty in Dirofilaria immitis for cats

Due to occult infection and the low number of adult worms.

Clinical signs of heartworm in cats

Coughing, asthma-like attacks, sudden death.

Treatment for heartworm in dogs

Melarsomine dihydrochloride (Adulticide).

Preventive drugs for heartworm in dogs and cats

Ivermectin, moxidectin, selamectin, milbemycin oxime.

Lungworm

Order = Metastrongyloidea.

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Feline lungworm with definitive host being cats.

Intermediate host of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Gastropod (slug or snail).

Life cycle of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Involves ingestion of intermediate or paratenic hosts leading to infection.

Diagnosis method for Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Baermann technique to look for first stage larvae (L1).

Clinical signs of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus

Chronic cough, dyspnea, wheezes.

Eucoleus aerophila

Common lungworm of dogs and cats.

Mode of infection for Eucoleus aerophila

Ingestion of infective ova in sputum or feces.

Diagnosis methods for Eucoleus aerophila

Fecal flotation, tracheal wash.

Bladder Worm

Order = Enoplida.

Pearsonema plica & Pearsonema feliscati

Bladder worms with dogs and cats as definitive hosts.

Life cycle of Pearsonema spp.

Eggs shed in urine develop in earthworm before infecting definitive host.

Diagnosis method for Pearsonema spp.

Urine sedimentation to look for characteristic eggs.

Giant Kidney Worm

Order = Ascaridida.

Dioctophyme renale

Giant kidney worm with definitive hosts including dogs and ferrets.

Mode of infection for Dioctophyme renale

Ingestion of intermediate or paratenic hosts.

Diagnosis test for Dioctophyme renale

Urine sediment to identify dark brown eggs.

Eye Worm

Order = Spiruroidea.

Thelazia spp.

Commonly known as Eyeworm, with definitive hosts being dogs and cats.

Intermediate host for Thelazia spp.

Drosophila fly.

Clinical signs of Thelazia spp. infection

Lacrimation, conjunctivitis, photophobia.

Treatment for Thelazia spp. infection

Local anesthetic and removal of parasites with forceps.