Veterinary Parasitology Flashcards

Flashcards based on veterinary parasitology lecture notes, focusing on definitions, key concepts, and parasite classifications.

What type of parasite does not require a host to be parasitic?

Facultative parasite

What is an opportunistic infection?

An infection caused by pathogens that take advantage of an opportunity not normally available, such as a weak immune system

What is parasitism?

An organism that spends its life eating from a host, harming the host in the process

What is an ectoparasite?

A parasite that lives outside the host

What is an endoparasite?

A parasite that lives inside the host

What is phoresies?

Two organisms traveling together, one being carried by the other

What is commensalism?

One partner benefits, the other is not affected

What is mutualism?

Both organisms benefit

What is hypobiosis?

Arrested development in a parasite

What are helminths?

Parasitic worms

What is Phylum Nematoda?

Roundworms

What is Class Cestodes?

Flatworms

What is Class Trematoda?

Endoparasite fluke

What is Class Monogenea?

Ectoparasite fluke

Which phylum do thorny-headed worms belong to?

Phylum Acanthocephala

What are examples of organisms in Kingdom Protozoa?

Flagellates, Ciliates, Apicomplexa

What is Myxozoa?

A kingdom Animalia

What are three key concepts about parasites?

Usually smaller than host, reproduce at a faster rate, typically don't kill host

What are mode of infections for parasites?

Oral, skin penetration, injection, transplacental

What is an intermediate host (IH)?

Required host where the parasite continues asexual development

What is a definitive host (DH)?

Host where parasite continues sexual development

What is a paratenic host (PH)?

Non-required transfer host

What is an aberrant host?

Host not typically used; development slow or incomplete

What is a dead-end host?

Host that doesn't allow transmission to definitive host, preventing development completion

What is a direct life cycle?

DH only; reproduce without an intermediate host

What is an indirect life cycle?

Two or more hosts required; intermediate host required

What are characteristics of sexual reproduction in parasites?

genetic diversity, longer life cycle, at least 2 parasites

What are characteristics of asexual reproduction in parasites?

No genetic diversity, short life cycle, only 1 parasite needed

Define predilection site.

Preferred site in or on host

Define aberrant site.

Abnormal location in or on host

What is trophic transmission?

Transmission linked by food chain where parasite loses predator avoidance

What is the significance of the 'Zombie Snail'?

Leucochloridium Paradoxum uses a gastropod intermediate to attract a definitive bird host

What is unique about Toxoplasma gondii's reproduction?

Only reproduces sexually in cats and makes rodents lose fear of cats

What does '-iasis' mean?

Presence of parasite (subclinical)

What does '-osis' mean?

Disease caused by parasite

What are some ways parasites can benefit a host?

Healthy skin & immune boost

What are key characteristics of Trematoda?

Oral and Ventral suckers, broad host spectrum, no direct life cycle, hermaphroditic and large eggs

How are Trematoda diagnosed?

Feces sedimentation

What kind of life cycle do Trematoda have?

Indirect complex life cycle

What are common locations for Trematoda in a host?

Rumen, liver, lungs, blood

What is Fasciola hepatica?

Sheep liver fluke

Which animal does Fasciola hepatica infect?

Ruminant

What are clinical sign of a Fasciola hepatica infection?

Bottle Jaw & Anemia

What is the first intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica?

Snail

What is the pathology associated with Fasciola hepatica?

Pipe stem liver with chronic infection

What kind of worms are Monogenea?

Ectoparasite flatworms

What kind of life cycle do Monogenea have?

Direct life cycle

How do Monogenea attach to hosts?

Hooks

What stage is a Oncomiracidium in?

Final Host

What is a zoite?

"Little creature"

What is a Sporozoite?

Infective form of zoite

What is a Trophozoite?

Feeding and growing form of zoite

What is a Tachyzoite?

Rapidly dividing form of zoite

What is a Bradyzoite?

Slowly dividing form of zoite

What is a Merozoite?

Many

What are key characteristcs of Protozoa?

Unicellular & Eukaryotic, Anerobic or Aerobic

How are Protozoa typically grouped?

By locomotion

What can Asexual reproduction result in for Protozoa?

Large exposure, significant damage

What happens during Schizogony?

Exponential increase in numbers during Asexual Reproduction

Is asexual or sexual reproduction more pathogenic?

Asexual

What results from Sexual reprodution of Merozoites?

Microgamete fertilizes macrogamete forming a zygote into a oocyst

Name examples of Flagellates.

Giardia, Histomonas, Trypanosomes

What does Giardia cause?

Travelers Diarrhea, chronic infection

What does Histomonas cause and who does it infect?

blackheads, important in poultry

What does Trypanosomes cause?

Sleeping Sickness and Chagas disease

What is an example of Cilates?

Balantidium

What is the lifecycle of Cilates?

Direct lifecycle

Balantidium transmission is contained to what?

Water

Where does sexual reproduction happen in Apicomplexa?

Epithelial cells

What does the asexual stage of Apicomplexa cause?

Damage

What does Eimeria have?

4 sporocysts with 2 sporozoites

What does Goussia have?

4 sporocysts with 2 sporozoites longitudinal suture

What does Sacrocystis cause?

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis

What is the Definitive Host (DH) for Sacrocystis?

Opossum

What happens when Toxoplasma infects an Intermediate Host (IH)?

Alters behavior to facilitate its way to the DH

Babesia uses what as its Definitive Host (DH)?

Tick

What disease does Babesia cause?

Texas cattle fever

What disease does Theileria cause?

East coast fever

What is a characteristic of Acanthocephala?

Thorny-headed worms related to rotifers with no mouth or digestive system

Is Acanthocephala usually pathogenic?

No, subclinical

How are Acanthocephala diagnosed?

Egg in the feces

What kind of worms are Myxozoa?

Parasitic jellyfish

Myxozoa life cycle is?

Indirect, obligate parasites

What hosts do Myxozoa use?

Fish and Annelid worm

Are all Multivalvulida pathogenic?

No, Histozoic are pathogenic and Coelozoic are not

What type of worm is Nematoda?

Round worm

Are male and female Nematoda separate?

Yes

What two ways can female Nematoda eggs be birthed?

Oviparous (egg laying) or Viviparous (live young)

Do Nematoda multiply within the host?

No

What does the mouth on a Nematoda have?

Teeth to draws blood, causes anemia

What is the "finger like appendage" on a Female Nematoda?

Vulva

What is a Bursa?

A Male Nematoda

What is Pre-L1

microfilaria (mff)

What is L5?

Immature adult

How can Nematoda infect?

Per os, Percutaneous, Transmammary, Transplacental

What stage of Larva is infective Direct Nematoda?

L3

What stage of Larva is infective Indirect Nematoda?

L1 which infects Intermediate Host

How should Nematoda be diagnosed?

Egg or L1 from fresh feces

How can a Nematoda ensure offspring get into a host?

Survival of eggs w/ larva -> thick shelled egg, Paratenic hosts

What is periparturient in a Nematoda?

Egg increase in/around birth