Dr. Schmidt - Parasite Lecture

Symbiosis

Any relationship where 2 or more species live closely together, with three types:Mutualism (+/+), Commensalism (+/0), Parasitism (+/-)

External Parasites

Parasites that live or bite on the outside of the body, including ticks, fleas, lice, mites, mosquitoes, and flies

Internal Parasites

Parasites that live inside the body, such as nematodes (roundworms, pinworms, hookworms, strongyles, lungworms), flatworms (trematodes, flukes, cestodes like tapeworms), and protozoa (e.g., Giardia, Toxoplasma)

Heartworms

Adult worms that live in large blood vessels around the heart and lungs, causing issues like coughing, blood circulation problems, and potentially death

Roundworms

Adult worms that live in the intestines, causing problems like interference with digestion, weight loss, and a rounded "pot belly"

Diagnosing Parasites

Veterinarians need to know where parasites live in the body, the problems they cause, which animals can become infected, how they get infected, how to diagnose them, treat them, and whether they are zoonotic

Heartworm Lifecycle

Mosquito bites a dog, transmitting heartworm larvae, which mature in the dog's body, eventually reaching the heart and lungs, causing severe health issues

Deworming

Treatment for parasites involves deworming medication, especially for young heartworms and roundworms, to eliminate the infestation

Zoonotic Parasites

Some parasites can be transmitted to humans, emphasizing the importance of proper diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in both animals and humans.