Veterinary Parasitology Lecture Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering swine internal parasites, protozoa, ectoparasites (ticks, fleas, and mites), and associated diseases based on lecture notes.

Ascarops strongylina

A swine parasite commonly called the stomach worm; it has an indirect life cycle using the dung beetle as an intermediate host, an infective stage of L3 in the dung beetle, and a prepatent period of 42 days.

Hyostrongylus rubidus

Known as the red stomach worm of swine; it features a direct life cycle with an infective L3 stage in the environment, a 3-week prepatent period, and causes blood-sucking induced gastritis, ulceration, and severe inflammation.

Ascaris suum

The pig roundworm and most common parasite of pigs, located in the small intestine; it undergoes tracheal migration, has a 6 to 7-week prepatent period, and can cause intestinal impaction or reduced growth in piglets.

Strongyloides ransomi

The pig threadworm with a direct life cycle and a 3 to 7-day prepatent period; uniquely, only the female is parasitic and can produce eggs without a male (parthenogenesis).

Oesophagostomum dentatum

Known as the nodular worm of swine, found in the large intestine; larvae penetrate the intestinal wall and coil up to form nodules, with skin penetration in mud being a primary route of infection.

Trichuris suis

The swine whipworm located in the cecum and colon; it has a direct life cycle, a prepatent period of 42 to 49 days, and causes bloody diarrhea, anemia, and anorexia.

Trichinella spiralis

The trichina worm found in the small intestine; larvae encyst in pig muscle, posing a major zoonotic threat to humans who ingest undercooked meat.

Stephanurus dentatus

The kidney worm found in the swine urinary tract, recognized as the second most common parasite in pigs; it has an exceptionally long prepatent period of 9 to 24 months.

Taenia solium

The pork tapeworm; humans act as definitive hosts while pigs serve as intermediate hosts housing infective cysticerci within muscle tissue.

Thorny-headed worm

A swine small intestine parasite with an indirect life cycle requiring the dung beetle as an intermediate host; it can attach and penetrate through the intestinal wall, leading to fatal peritonitis.

Balantidium coli

A protozoan living in the cecum and colon of swine, diagnosed as cysts or motile phases in feces, and treated using tetracycline or metronidazole.

Cryptosporidium

A tiny zoonotic protozoan in the small intestine that causes yellowish, mucoid diarrhea in swine; diagnosed via specialized fecal stains or ELISA testing.

Questing

A behavior where ticks hold onto vegetation with their back legs and wave their front legs to feel vibrations and latch onto passing host animals.

Otobius megnini

The spinous ear tick; a one-host tick found deep in the ear canal of dogs, cats, and horses, where the larval and nymph stages are the primary parasitic stages.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus

The brown dog tick; feeds almost exclusively on dogs and serves as a vector for Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis.

Dermacentor variabilis

The American dog tick; features an ornate scutum, prefers scrub-brush environments, and acts as a vector for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tick paralysis.

Amblyomma americanum

The Lone Star tick; identifiable by a single central star marking on its scutum, inflicts a painful bite, and transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Amblyomma maculatum

The Gulf Coast tick; delivers a painful bite, features silvery markings on its scutum, and can cause ear drooping in heavily infested cattle and horses.

Ctenocephalides felis

The cat flea; the most common flea species affecting both cats and dogs, serving as an intermediate host for Dipylidium caninum.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

An intense hypersensitivity reaction triggered by flea saliva during blood meals, causing extreme pruritus, skin crusts around the hindquarters, and secondary bacterial infections.

Echidnophaga gallinacea

The sticktight flea common to poultry and farm animals; unlike typical moving fleas, the female inserts her mouthparts to remain permanently anchored in one spot.

Sarcoptes scabiei

The mite responsible for sarcoptic mange/scabies; features a round body with short legs, requires a deep skin scraping for diagnosis, and causes self-limiting red rashes on human handlers.

Demodex

The red mange mite that resides deep within hair follicles and sebaceous glands; cigar-shaped with eight short legs, it is part of normal skin flora but proliferates during stress or immunosuppression.

Psoroptes

A genus of non-burrowing scab mites that cause crusty lesions; includes Psoroptes ovis, which causes severe wool damage in sheep.

Otodectes cynotis

The common ear mite of dogs and cats; characterized by long legs with long hairs, diagnosed via an ear swab or direct otoscopic observation.