Endoparasites

Endoparasites

1. Reliant on host

2. Causes damage to host

3. $$ damage to production animal industry

   • Secrete toxins
   • Weight loss
   • Blood loss
   • Damage hide or hair

4. Harm to companion animals

   • Can be zoonotic

5. Signs and symptoms of endoparasite

   • Weight loss
   • Poor coat condition
   • Dehydration
   • Reduced appetite
   • Cough
   • Tail rubbing

6. Platyhelminthes (Flatworm)

   • Trematoda (flukes)
     • attach internal organs host animal
       • Small, seed shaped
         • Live in various parts of host animal
           • Most damaging live in liver
             • Liver Fluke
               • Hatch in water - swim to find host
                 • Attach to plants near water
                   • Livestock eat plants
                     • Fluke enters host, enters liver
           • Require intermediate host
   • Cestoda (tapeworm)
     • Has suckers, usually attaches to intestine of host
       • Can be up to 20m
         • Segments break off and pass out of host in faeces
           • Fish tapeworm
             • Fish eats host that has parasite (water flea)
               • Affects waterways
   • lack body cavity
     • Bilateral symmetry

7. Nematoda (roundworms)

   • Pinworms
     • Mainly humans
   • Hookworms
     • Common in cats and dogs
     • ancylostoma caninum
       • Hookworm affect small intestine dogs
         • Larvae ingested by dog
           • Diagnosis - faecal egg count
         • Through faeces - goes into soil - ingested by other dog
   • Cylindrical shaped
   • Complete digestive tracts
   • Resistant to harsh environment conditions
   • More damage to livestock
   • Can infect almost all species with digestive tract

8. Protozoans

   • Hepatozoon
     • Heptazoon spp.
       • Intracellular parasite
         • Many infect erythrocytes
           • Sometimes non-pathogenic
   • Babesia
     • Babesiosis
       • Multiply asexually
         • Transmitted by ticks
   • Haematozoa
     • Opportunistic
       • May cause amenia
         • Prevention - remove faeces, good management practices
           • Good hygiene
           • Use prevention treatments
           • Control - understand infection
             • Remove faeces, get treatment ASAP