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What is an ECTOPARASITE?
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Give 3 examples of ECTOPARASITES
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Animal Care Unit1C1
Ectoparasites
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is an ECTOPARASITE? | Parasites found on the outside of an animal's body |
| Give 3 examples of ECTOPARASITES | Flea, tick and mite |
| Describe a FLEA | Small, six-legged, wingless insect with specially adapted legs for jumping. It has specialised mouth parts for piercing skin and sucking the blood of the host animal |
| Describe the life cycle of a FLEA | Adult female lays numerous eggs. Eggs fall off into the environment. Eggs hatch within 2–5 days. Larvae feed on dust and dirt in the environment then spin a cocoon (7–20 days). Adult flea hatches about 7 days later |
| Which ECTOPARASITE is responsible for the spread of MYXOMATOSIS in rabbits? | Flea |
| What are the signs/symptoms of a FLEA infestation? | Scratching and/or biting of fur. Patchy fur loss. Thickening of skin where animal has scratched repeatedly. Flea dirt in the coat. Red, irritated skin. Fleas may be visible. In young or old animals, the loss of blood can make them weak and lethargic. |
| What should we do to prevent a flea infestation? | Regular use of treatments on the animal’s skin/fur. Sprays, tablets, injections or shampoos. Regular washing of pet bedding or removal of dirty pet bedding. Regular vacuuming of carpets. Treatment of the environment to break the fleas’ life cycle. |
| Describe a tick (sheep tick) | Small, eight-legged, wingless arachnid with specialised mouth parts for piercing skin and sucking the blood of their mammal host. Only adult females feed. |
| Why does tick saliva contain an anticoagulant? | This stops blood from clotting so they can keep feeding |
| Describe the life cycle of a tick? | Adult lays eggs. Larvae climb on to host (small mammals or birds). These fall off and moult to nymphs. Nymphs climb on to host animal. These fall off and moult to adults. These find a third host and the cycle continues. |
| Which ECTOPARASITE has a three host stage development? | Tick |
| How long does the life cycle of a tick take? | At least one year |
| Why must special care be taken when removing a tick? | They can spread Lyme disease (a bacterial disease) to humans. |
| What is the term for diseases which can be transmitted from animals to humans? | Zoonotic |
| What are the signs/symptoms of a tick infestation | Fnding them on the animal (visible grey dots attached to the skin that may be mistaken for warts), most commonly in areas where there is little or no hair on the animal (such as in/around the ears, inside of the legs, in between toes). |
| What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? | Fever. Lameness. Lethargy. Joint pain. |
| How do we treat ticks? | Safe removal of the tick using tick tweezers – grab hold of the head then twist anticlockwise until the tick comes away from the animal, ensuring the whole tick has been removed. Alternatively, smear the tick with petroleum jelly and leave to suffocate. |
| How can we prevent ticks? | Regular use of treatments applied directly to the animal’s fur, sprays, collars impregnated with tick repellent. Avoid areas where ticks are more common, such as woodland areas and long rough grass, between March and October. |
| Describe a mite | Small, eight-legged, wingless arachnid. A burrowing parasite that feeds on the skin of most mammal species. |
| Why must special care be taken when handling animals and their bedding if we suspect they have mites? | Mites are zoonotic parasites - they can be passed from animals to humans |
| What are the signs/symptoms of a mite infestation? | Hair loss (alopecia). Excessive scratching. Crusty skin, which can be broken by excessive scratching and become infected. |
| How can we prevent mites? | There is no way to prevent mites on animals |
| When are animals likely to be most affected by mites? | When their immune system is lowered (such as by stress, ill health or other reasons). |
| How can we reduce the risk of picking up mites? | Keep animals away from areas where there are known to be foxes (often infested with mange mite) |
| How should we treat mites? | Regular use of preventative treatments applied directly to the animal’s skin/fur, sprays, shampoos and powders. |
| What should we do if an animal becomes infested by mites? | More drastic treatments may be required, including lime sulfur dip or other organophosphate dip (toxic to humans) |
| If a treatment is toxic to humans what PPE should be worn? | Overalls, gloves and face masks. |
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MmeLightfoot
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