Arthropods: Fleas, Lice, Flies, Ticks, and Mites

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from lecture notes on arthropod identification, including ticks, mites, fleas, lice, and flies.

Sarcoptes scabiei

A mite characterized by a round and clear outer body with yellow legs, head, and internal organs; it causes scabies, is zoonotic, and can be transmitted via host contact or clothes.

Zoonotic Disease

An infectious illness that can spread between animals and humans.

Demodex folliculorum

A parasite characterized by a long, worm-like clear body with black internal organs.

Psoroptes cuniculi and Otodectes cynotis Diagnostic Method

Sample collection using a cotton swab, as these parasites reside in the ears of the patient.

Notoedres cati Diagnostic Method

Sample collection using a skin scrape, as this parasite resides deep in the epidermis.

Cheyletiella spp.

A parasite genus whose common name is walking dandruff.

Hard Ticks

Ticks distinguished by a hard plate called a scutum on the dorsal body surface, prominent mouthparts, 8 legs in adults, and a brown, larger body size.

Soft Ticks

Ticks characterized by a soft, leathery cuticle and mouthparts that are not visible from the dorsal view.

Larval Ticks

Immature ticks that are yellow, significantly smaller than adult ticks, and possess 6 legs.

Ctenocephalides spp.

The cat or dog flea; distinguished by being larger than Echidnophaga spp. and having two combs at the ventral and posterior parts of its head.

Echidnophaga spp.

The poultry sticktight flea; distinguished by its smaller, rounder body and the absence of combs at the ventral and posterior parts of its head.

Flea Rearmost Legs

Elongated hind legs that allow a flea to jump from place to place on a host's body or transfer to a new host.

Flea Feces Test

A diagnostic method of placing black flecks from a flea comb on a wet paper towel; if the color turns reddish-brown, it is flea feces (digested host blood), whereas if it remains brown, it is dirt.

Trichodectes spp.

The dog chewing louse belonging to the order Phthiraptera, featuring short front legs and mandibles in its mouthparts.

Linognathus spp.

A sucking louse characterized by 3 pairs of short legs with claws on the back two pairs to grab host hair, lacking mandibles.

Melophagus spp.

The sheep ked (or 'sheep tick'), which is a wingless fly possessing 3 distinct body regions (head, thorax, abdomen) and 6 legs.

Hematopinus spp.

The hog louse (a sucking louse) possessing claws at the distal ends of its legs that allow it to attach to host hair and move around the host's body.

Infection vs. Infestation

Infection refers to a parasite living and multiplying within a host, while infestation refers to a parasite living and multiplying on a host.