Common Ectoparasites Covered in Lecture

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key ectoparasites (fleas, lice, ticks, and mites) from the lecture notes.

Cuterebra

Genus of bot fly larvae that infest mammals; known simply as the bot fly larva.

Ctenocephalides felis

The common cat flea responsible for flea infestations on cats and dogs.

Anoplura

Order of blood-sucking lice found on mammals; called sucking lice.

Mallophaga

Order of lice that feed by chewing on skin debris, feathers, or hair; called chewing lice.

Otobius megnini

The spinose ear tick, a soft tick that commonly infests the ear canals of livestock, dogs, and wildlife.

Amblyomma americanum

The lone star tick, identified by a single white spot on the female’s dorsum.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus

The brown dog tick, a hard tick that primarily infests dogs and can live indoors.

Dermacentor variabilis

The American dog tick (Rocky Mountain wood tick) responsible for transmitting several diseases.

Ixodes scapularis

The black-legged (deer) tick known for transmitting Lyme disease.

Otodectes cynotis

The ear mite of cats and dogs that causes otitis externa.

Cheyletiella

‘Walking dandruff’ mite that causes flaky dermatitis and is visible as moving dandruff.

Demodex canis

Follicular mite of dogs that causes demodectic mange when present in high numbers.

Sarcoptes scabiei

Burrowing mite that causes sarcoptic mange (scabies) in various mammals.