Ectoparasites and fungi

Fleas (Ctenocephalides felis / canis)

• Intermediate for tapeworm (Dipylidium coninum)

• Transmit plague

• Medium level zoonosis risk

• Flea bite dermatitis

• 16 days - 2years life cycle

• “2D”

Lice (Mallophaga)

• “Chewing” lice

• Eggs called ‘nits’

• Round head

• No zoonotic potential

• Itching and hair loss

• 3-5 week life cycle

Lice (Anoplura)

• “Sucking” lice

• Narrow head

• Burrow into skin

• No zoonotic potential

• Dorsoventrally compressed

• Itching and hair loss

• Pediculosis = infestation

Bot fly: Small Animal (Cuterebra)

• Burrow and leave opening

• Develop for 30 days and then emerge

• Common in rodents and small mammals

• Medium zoonosis potential (Myiasis in larva)

Bot fly: Equine (Gastrophilus intestinalis)

• Common in equine

• Develop in the stomach Warble flies

• Ectto/endoparasite

Bot fly: Cattle (Hypo-derma spp.)

• Common in cattle

• Grubs develop under the skin

Burrowing Mite (Sarcoptes scabei)

• Canine mange

• Walnut shaped

• Lives in superficial layers of epidermis

• Feeds on tissue fluid

• High zoonotic potential

• Hair loss and intense pruritus

• Ear flaps, groin, arm pits

Burrowing Mite (Notodres Cati)

• Feline mange

• Round in shape (no scallops)

• Usually confined to head and neck

• High zoonotic potential

• Mite infestation=acariasis

Burrowing Mite (Demodex spp.)

• Cigar shaped

• Live in hair follicles and sebaceous glands

• Natural skin fauna

• Low zoonotic potential

• Generalized infection can be a sign of immunodeficiency

Non- burrowing: Ear Mite (Otodectes cynotis)

• Otitis externa (cats, dogs, ferrets)

• Live in outer ear canal

• Feed on epidermal debris

• Typically bilateral infection

• Low zoonotic potential

Non-burrowing: Walking Dandruff Mite (Cheyletiella spp.)

• Live on keratin layer

• Feed on keratin debris and tissue fluids

• Visible to the naked eye

• Huge hook-like mouth parts

• Low zoonosis potential

Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

• Hard ticks (Ixodidae)

• Raisin appearance

• Intermediate for Babesia canis

• Can cause hemolytic anemia

• Vector for Ehrlichia canis

• High zoonotic potential

Blacklegged/ Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis)

• Mainly in north eastern U.S

• Hard tick (Ixodidae)

• Carry Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)

• Look like deer tail

• Must be attached for 48 hrs for infection to occur

• Skin, joint, heart and brain abnormalities

• High zoonotic potential

Lone Star Tick (Ambyomma americanum)

• Signature white spot

• Hard tick (Ixodidae)

• Very painful bite

• Carries tularemia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

• High zoonotic potential

American Dog Tick (Dermacentar variabilis)

• Brown body/ yellow stripe marks (bon bon)

• Hard tick (Ixodidae)

• Vector for Rocky Mountain Spotted fever (bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii)

• Flu like symptoms

• High zoonotic potential

Spinose Ear Tick (Otobius megninni)

• Soft tick (Argosidae)

• Cause pain and muscle spasms

• Common in livestock

• Destroy ear canal and tympanic membrane

• Only nymph and larvae are parasitic

• High zoonotic potential

Ringworm (microsporum canis)

• Caused by dermatophytes

• Transmitted via contact or airborne spores

• High zoonotic potential

Yeast infection (Unicellular fungi)

• aerobic or anaerobic

• sexual or asexual

• 400x for best viewing

• Smelly and greasy

• Look like snowmen or footprints