Monster Hunter's Guide to: Veterinary Parasitology - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key parasite terms, life cycles, and clinical features from the Veterinary Parasitology notes.

Blowfly (Family Calliphoridae)

A common fly group attracted to carrion; they liquefy rotting flesh with digestive juices and soak up nutrients with sponge-like mouthparts; adults and larvae can spread bacteria and disease.

Calliphoridae

Family of blowflies known for their association with decaying matter and their role in decomposition.

Cat Warble (Genus Cuterebra)

Opportunistic parasitic larvae that live under the skin of small mammals; exit the host around 30 days to pupate; can cause skin lesions and systemic symptoms; prevention includes parasite control measures.

Coccidia

Single-celled protozoan parasites (order Eucoccidiorida) causing coccidiosis in dogs, cats, and other animals; life cycles involve oocysts shed in feces.

Isospora (Genus)

Genus of coccidian parasites (coccidia) including species that infect dogs and cats (e.g., I. canis, I. felis); have oocysts with a defined prepatent and patent period.

Isospora canis

Coccidian parasite of dogs; part of the Isospora species complex affecting the canine intestinal tract.

Isospora felis

Coccidian parasite of cats; part of the Isospora species complex affecting the feline intestinal tract.

Isospora rivolta

A canine/feline coccidian species within the Isospora genus; involved in intestinal infections.

Isospora ohioensis-like

A canine coccidian resembling I. ohioensis within the Isospora genus.

Isospora burrowsi

A canine/ feline coccidian species within Isospora genus.

Oocyst

The thick-walled cyst stage shed in feces by coccidia (Isospora/Eimeria) that contains sporoblasts or sporozoites for infection.

Sporulated oocyst

Mature, infective oocyst formed after sporulation outside the host.

Unsporulated oocyst

Immature oocyst not yet containing sporocysts or sporozoites and not yet infective.

Sporoblast

Developmental stage inside an oocyst that will give rise to sporocysts and sporozoites.

Sporozoite

Infective cell that invades host gut cells after excystation of the oocyst.

Sporoocysts (sporocysts)

Structures inside oocysts that contain sporozoites; released during sporulation.

Merozoite

A stage released from a schizont that infects new cells to continue the life cycle.

Trophozoite

Active, feeding stage of protozoan parasites within host tissue or cells.

Schizont

Cell stage where parasites divide to produce merozoites inside host cells.

Hypnozoite

Dormant stage of some coccidia (e.g., Isospora felis) that can persist in a host and reactivate later.

Excystation

Process of parasite emergence (sporozoites) from the cyst/oocyst after ingestion by the host.

Eimeria

Genus of protozoan parasites (coccidia) causing coccidiosis in various animals; forms oocysts shed in feces and requires sporulation to become infective.

Sporulated oocyst (Eimeria/Isospora)

Infective oocyst that has completed sporulation outside the host.

Excystation

Escape of parasites (sporozoites) from cysts/oocysts to initiate infection.

Sporozoite

Infective stage that invades host cells to begin the intracellular phase of the parasite.

Giardia (Genus Giardia)

Protozoan parasite causing giardiasis; transmitted via contaminated water or food; symptoms include diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Giardia lamblia (Genus Giardia)

Protozoan causing giardiasis in humans and animals; forms cysts that survive in the environment.

Heartworm (Genus Dirofilaria)

Nematode parasite whose adults live in the heart and pulmonary vessels; transmitted by mosquitoes; lifespan up to 5–7 years.

Dirofilaria (Heartworm)

Genus of heartworms; primary veterinary concern causing heart and lung disease.

Microfilaria

Larval offspring of adult heartworms circulating in blood; transmitted to mosquitoes and develop into infective larvae.

Mosquito (Culicidae)

Females feed on blood and transmit parasites such as heartworm; life stages include egg, larva (wrigglers), pupa, and adult.

Dipylidium caninum

Flea tapeworm; eggs shed in feces and ingested by larval fleas; can infect dogs/cats when they ingest an infected flea.

Dipylidium (Flea Tapeworm)

Tapeworm genus whose lifecycle involves fleas as intermediate hosts.

Flea (Genus Ctenocephalides)

Parasite with four life stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult); feeds on host blood and is a vector for tapeworms and other pathogens.

Flea lifecycle stages

Eggs hatch into larvae, larvae form pupae, and adults hatch from pupae; eggs laid by females shed into the environment.

Flea Tapeworm Egg (Dipylidium)

Egg capsules shed in feces that can be ingested by fleas, perpetuating the tapeworm lifecycle.

Taenia Tapeworm (Taenia spp.)

Flatworms whose adults live in the small intestine; eggs or gravid proglottids are excreted; lifecycles involve vertebrate intermediate hosts.

Taenia (Genus)

Tapeworm genus including species such as Taenia saginata (beef) and Taenia solium (pork); life cycle involves intermediate hosts and humans through undercooked meat.

Taenia egg

Eggs excreted in feces; ingested by intermediate hosts and hatch to form cysticerci in muscle.

Taenia segment (Gravid/Proglottid)

Body segments of tapeworm containing eggs; detach and exit with feces to spread infection.

Strongyles (Horse Strongyles, Genus Strongylus)

Gastrointestinal nematodes in horses; life cycle includes migratory larvae and adults in the intestinal tract; can cause anemia and colic.

Horse Bots (Genus Gasterophilus)

Bot flies whose eggs attach to horse hair; larvae migrate to mouth and stomach, then exit in feces; life cycle about one year.

Gasterophilus (Horse Bots)

Genus of bot flies affecting horses; eggs on hair, larvae in mouth/stomach, pupation in feces.

Lice (Mallophaga) - Biting

Chewing lice; two genera (Bovicola, Trichodectes); mouthparts adapted for biting; lifespan ~30–35 days; cause itching and skin damage.

Lice (Anoplura) - Sucking

Sucking lice; genera like Linognathus, Haematopinus; wingless parasites that suck blood; lifespan ~2–3 months.

Lice lifecycle

Eggs (nits) hatch into nymphs, which mature into adults; treated with insecticides and environmental sanitation.

Ear Mite (Otodectes cynotis)

Parasite living in the ear canal of dogs and cats; highly contagious; causes inflammation, discharge, and itching; treated with veterinary ear cleaners and medications.

Otodectes (Ear Mite)

Genus of ear mites causing otitis externa; common in outdoor cats and household pets.

Sarcoptic Mite (Sarcoptes scabiei/Notoedres spp.)

Mites that cause mange; live in the skin, causing severe pruritus and dermatitis; treated with acaricides and environmental cleaning.

Demodex (Genus Demodex)

Hair follicle mites; Demodex species (e.g., D. canis, D. folliculorum); usually host-specific and can cause demodectic mange in some animals.

Demodex folliculorum

A barber- or marker-type mite inhabiting hair follicles, commonly associated with humans.

Demodex canis

Demodex mite species commonly found on dogs, linked to demodectic mange in some cases.

Liver Fluke (Fasciola spp.)

Trematode (fluke) living in bile ducts; life cycle involves snails as intermediate hosts; can cause weight loss and liver damage.

Fasciola (Liver Fluke)

Genus of liver flukes including Fasciola hepatica; complex life cycle with aquatic snails and grazing animals.

Liver Fluke life cycle

Eggs shed in feces, miracidia infect snails, cercariae encyst as metacercariae on vegetation, eaten by livestock.

Mosquito (Genus Aedes/Culex/Anopheles)

Vectors for parasites like heartworms; females bite to obtain blood and lay eggs in standing water.

Whipworm (Genus Trichuris)

Nematode with whip-like appearance; resides in the large intestine; eggs are hardy in the environment and require sanitation to prevent infection.

Whipworm egg

Embryonated eggs shed in feces that become infective after environmental maturation.

Toxocara (Roundworm)

Genus of roundworms (e.g., T. canis, T. cati) that infect dogs and cats; eggs shed in feces; can be transmitted transplacentally or via milk.

Toxocara canis

Roundworm species infecting dogs; eggs in environment; can cause disease in puppies and markedly in humans via accidental ingestion.

Toxocara cati

Roundworm species infecting cats; similar transmission and disease potential as T. canis.

Roundworm eggs

Eggs shed in feces that develop into infectious larvae in soil; ingestion leads to infection.

Roundworm life cycle

Eggs in environment hatch into larvae in the host’s intestine; larvae migrate through tissues before maturing.

Taenia (Tapeworm)

Genus of flatworms with segments called proglottids; lifecycle involves intermediate hosts and vertebrate final hosts, including humans in some cases.

Taenia tapeworm egg

Eggs excreted in feces or gravid proglottids; ingested by intermediate hosts to form cysticerci in muscle.

Taenia segment (Gravid Proglottid)

Full of eggs; detach from the tapeworm and exit in feces to spread infection.

Tick - American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

Tick species with life stages including larva, nymph, and adults; known vector for pathogens and has a distinct web-like identification.

Tick - Black Legged Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis)

Tick species with life stages including larva, nymph, and adults; notable vector for several diseases including Lyme.

Hookworm (Family Ancylostomatidae)

Intestinal nematodes with percutaneous infection; eggs hatch in environment; L3 larvae penetrate skin; cause anemia.

Ancylostoma (Hookworm)

Genus of hookworms within Ancylostomatidae; includes several species infecting dogs and humans.

Uncinaria

A genus of hookworms in the Ancylostomatidae family; similar life cycle to other hookworms.

Horse Bots (Gasterophilus)

Bot flies whose eggs attach to horse hair; larvae migrate to the mouth and stomach and are excreted after ~1 year.

Gasterophilus

Genus of horse bot flies that parasitize horses during their larval stages.

Lice (Mallophaga) – Biting

Chewing lice that feed on skin, feathers, or hair; host-specific; lifecycle includes eggs, nymphs, adults.

Lice (Anoplura) – Sucking

Sucking lice that feed on blood; wingless; host-specific; transmit skin irritation and potential diseases.

Eosinophils

A type of white blood cell involved in parasitic infections and allergic responses; often elevated during helminth infections.

Roundworm (Toxocara/Toxascaris) life stages

Eggs in environment become infective; larvae migrate through tissues; can cause disease in young and cross-species transmission.

Parasite Prevention

Management practices (deworming, environmental sanitation, flea/tick control, mosquito control) that reduce parasite exposure and infection.