ECTOPARASITES

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ECTOPARASITES

Introduction

• What is an ectoparasite?

• Why is the control of ectoparasites so important?

• Where should we seek advice if we think our pet has ectoparasites?

• Does anyone have any previous experience of ectoparasites?

What are ectoparasites?

• Ecto means outside.

• Parasites are organisms that live on other animals.

• Ectoparasites are therefore parasites that live on the skin or hair of other animals.

Ectoparasites

Which ectoparasites live on cats & dogs?

• Fleas

• Lice

• Ticks

• Mites

Ectoparasites

• Scratching

• Skin disease

• Anaemia

• Allergic reactions

• Alopecia (baldness)

• Spread of disease

• Death

Ectoparasites

What problems are caused by ectoparasites?

• The commonest type of flea found on both cats and dogs is the cat flea – Ctenocephalides felis.

• Fleas are small, reddish brown insects.

• Dogs and cats catch fleas either from other affected animals, or from the environment.

• Fleas have very strong back legs and can jump long distances.

Fleas

Ectoparasites

• Fleas bite the animal and suck its blood.

• Some animals are allergic to the flea’s saliva, and they become very itchy. These animals can develop large bald patches. This is termed Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD).

• In very small puppies and kittens, the blood loss (anaemia) can be fatal.

• Fleas are intermediate hosts for the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum.

Ectoparasites

Flea Facts

• Fleas!

• Itchiness

• Bald patches

• Flea dirt

How can you tell the difference between flea dirt and ordinary dirt ?

• Flea dirt is mainly dried blood. If you place some on a piece of damp cotton wool the blood will dissolve and turn the cotton wool red.

Ectoparasites

Signs of Fleas

• The most effective flea treatments are generally:

• Spot on

• Sprays

• It is important to treat the house with a suitable spray as well as treating the animal. This is because the flea’s eggs fall of the animal and land in the carpet. They then develop into larvae, then adult fleas.

Ectoparasites

Flea Treatments

Flea Lifecycle

Ectoparasites

• Lice are small wingless insects that may infect dogs or cats.

• Lice spend all of their lives on the animal. They are passed on by direct contact between affected animals, or via fomites such as grooming equipment.

• Lice lay their eggs on the animal’s coat. These eggs (or nits) are then stuck onto the hairs.

Ectoparasites

Lice

• Itchiness

• Baldness

• Dandruff

• You may see the lice or nits whilst grooming your pet.

Ectoparasites

How do I know if my dog or cat has lice?

• Contact your vet for advice. Many flea treatments will also kill lice.

• Lice are highly contagious so all of the cats or dogs in the household must be treated.

• Grooming equipment and bedding must also be washed as they are FOMITES and may harbour the lice.

Ectoparasites

What do I do if my pet has lice?

• Ticks are related to spiders.

• Ticks are found in long grass and shrubs. They attach themselves to the dog or cat in order to feed. They bury their mouthparts into the animal’s skin and suck their blood.

• Before a blood meal, ticks are tiny – only about the size of a pinhead. After feeding they can swell up to 100 times their original size!

Ectoparasites

Ticks

• Ticks are large enough to be seen, especially after a meal. They often attach themselves to the head or ears of the dog or cat.

Ectoparasites

How can I tell if my pet has got ticks?

What do I do if my pet has got ticks?

• Ticks are killed by particular ectoparasiticides, and often drop off by themselves once dead. They can also be removed by a special tool, or by the veterinary surgeon or nurse.

• DO NOT JUST PULL OFF A TICK – the mouthparts may be left behind and cause an infection.

• Don’t squeeze the tick

• Don’t use Vaseline

• Don’t use a lit cigarette to burn them off!

Ectoparasites

• Ticks are vectors for disease transmission.  

• For ticks to spread disease, they must first feed on an infected animal, then jump aboard another animal and feed again.

• Tick repellents can be used to prevent the ticks from feeding – contact your vet for advice.

• Important tick-borne diseases that pet owners in the UK should be aware of are:

Ectoparasites

Tick Bourne Diseases

• Lyme disease. This is caused by a parasite called Borrelia burgdorferi which is carried by a common species of tick called Ixodes. Lyme disease causes arthritis in dogs, together with fever, lethargy, and anorexia. Lyme disease can also affect humans if they are bitten by an infected tick.

• Anaplasmosis. This is caused by the parasite called Anaplasma phagocytophila which is also transmitted by Ixodes ticks. Symptoms include lethargy, high temperature, and being generally unwell.

• Ehrlichiosis is more often seen in Europe and is a tick-borne disease caused by a parasite called Ehrlicia canis. Clinical signs can include anaemia and blood clotting problems.

• Babesiosis is a disease of the red blood cells caused by the tick-borne parasite Babesia. Affected dogs can become very anaemic and die.

The diseases mentioned above are of particular risk to pets that travel to Europe. It is also a

worry that travelling pets may return to the UK with these diseases, and help them establish

here.

Ectoparasites

• There are many different types of mites. Some live on the surface of the skin, some live in the ears, and some burrow deep into the skin.

• Different types of mites can affect dogs & cats.

• Most mites are too small to be seen with the naked eye.

• This mite is Sarcoptes, the scabies mite. It is a ZOONOSIS.

Ectoparasites

Mites

• Your pet may be very itchy, and develop bald patches or red skin. Contact your vet for advice.

• Ear mites may result in large amounts of dark brown ear wax and can lead to ear infections

Ectoparasites

How do I know if my pet has mites?

• EAR MITES can affect dogs, cats and rabbits. They cause itchy ears and a thick brown ear wax.

• This mite is Otodectes, the ear mite of dogs & cats

Ectoparasites

• Demodex mites live in the skin of many different species of animal and usually cause no problems.

• Demodex can however cause disease in young puppies, or older dogs with a weak immune system.

• Demodex mites are transferred from a mother to her puppies within the first few days after they are born. They are not contagious at any other time.

• Demodectic mange may be localised with small bald areas or generalized with lesions all over the body.

Ectoparasites

Demodex in Dogs

• Sarcoptic mange can affect all ages and breeds of dogs.

• The mites usually spend their entire life on a dog burrowing into the skin and laying eggs. They are transmitted by direct contact with other infected animals, including foxes.

• The most common signs are hair loss and extreme itching especially around the ears, armpits, elbows, and belly.

• Because the dog is scratching so much the skin becomes very sore and can become infected.

Sarcoptic Mange

Ectoparasites

Myiasis

• Also known as flystrike

• Animals with dirty bottoms or open wounds attract flies

• The flies then lay eggs on the animal which develop into maggots

• The maggots feed on the animal’s flesh, sometimes burrowing deep into the tissues while the animal is still alive

Ectoparasites

RABBIT ECTOPARASITES

• Cheyletiella parasitovorax - Rabbit fur mite. This mite lives on the surface of the skin and is just visible to the naked eye. Often called ‘walking dandruff’ as they cause flaking skin. NB Cheyletiella is a zoonosis.

• Psoroptes cuniculi - Rabbit ear mite.

• Spillopsyllus cuniculi - Rabbit flea. Important as vector for myxomatosis. Cat fleas can occasionally live on rabbits.

• Haemodipsus ventricosus - Rabbit louse.

• Myiasis –Flystrike is common in rabbits in summer months