Ectoparasites

Ectoparasites

1. Mites: burrow, not visible to naked eye, alopecia & pruritis, erythema, crusting

   • Demodex
     • Commensal
       • Investigate immunosuppression
     • Localised; head lesions, alopecia scales, crusting
     • Generalised: lifethreatening
     • Skin scrapes, histology, hair plucks
     • Advocate, aludex, ivermectin
   • Sarcoptes
     • Zoonotic
     • Immunosuppression, fox expsoure, contact, fomites
       • Deep skin scrapes at edge of lesion find active mites, serology for sarcoptes IgG
       • Aludex, stronghold, ivermectin, pain relief, NO STEROIDS
     • Cats, ferrets, rabbits
   • Otodectes Cynotic
     • Puppies, kittens, no clinical signs in ferrets
     • Microscopy & otoscopy
     • Advocate, ear drops can drown. Repeat 3 weeks kill hatchlings
   • Psoroptes cuniculi (Rabbit fleas irritate dogs & cats but don't colonise), Notoedres cati (cat mite not endemic in U.K.), Notoedres muris (Rats & Hamsters) , Cheyletiella (Rabbits)

2. Lice: visible to naked eye, microscopy determine biting (wide head) or sucking (sharp head), species specific, pediculosis pubis infects humans only

   • Myiasis
     • Rabbits? Any animal with diarrhoea, matted fur or urine scolds.
     • Rear Guard, Xenex, physically remove maggots, clip & clean area, panomec prevent maggot development
     • Euthanasia

3. Ectoparasite= vector for diseases

   • Leishmania
     • Sandfly
     • Zoonotic
     • Wasting, anorexia, non-pruritic alopecia of face & feet, lymphoadenopathy, liver/ kidney failure, polyarthritis
     • Southern Europe= rarely treated

4. Ticks: Zoonotic, visible naked eye, long grass & woodland, anaemia? bacterial infection?

   • Ixodes ricinus+ Deer tick
     • Lyme disease/ babesia
   • Rhipicephalus sanguineus= brown dog tick
     • Babesia/ rickettsia in humans
   • May resemble fleas, transmit diseases, remove immediatly! tick removal tools.
   • Frontline every 4 weeks, Activyl, seresto collars last 8 months,

5. Fleas: species specific/resistant

   • Adult jumps onto warm, living host
     • Eggs (50 per day) Larvae within a day
       • Larvae moult twice before pupating
         • Pupae= highly resistant to heat, drying, insecticides. Usually hatch 1-2weeks but can be 2 yrs, respond to Co2
           • Adults within 12 days
   • Visible to naked eye, wet paper test, pruritis (hypersensitive animals get this & groom fleas off, hypersensitive animals get dermatitis, microscopy see eggs, owner flea bites
   • Hoover house: Remove all animals, close windows& hoover whole house, open 1 hour later, repeat in 24 hours etc.
   • Rabbits: NO FIPRONIL, smallies use Xenex,
   • Cats: Frontline, Advantage, Advocate, Comfortis. Dogs: this + Advantix