What is a Parasite Parasites are small organisms

What is a Parasite? • Parasites are small organisms that live in or on another living body. • The parasite feeds on the host but does not normally kill it, as this would destroy the food source.

Parasites: examples • Worms • Fungi • Protozoa • Leeches • Plants (mistletoe & Wood Rose) • Insects (Fleas, ticks, flies) • Arachnids (Mites and Ticks) In animals there are 2 main categories of parasites: 1) Ectoparasites 2) Endoparasites

Ectoparasites • These parasites attach to the outside of the host • They are adapted for clinging and suck blood or tissue fluid after piercing the skin Tick • Examples are: – – – Fleas Ticks Lice Flies Mites Flea Lice Mite

• Clinical signs: An animal with ectoparasites can exhibit the following clinical signs: – – – – – Anaemia Alopecia (hair loss) Itching/rash Scaling/crusts Self trauma Bleeding Wet patches of fur Head shaking Head tilt Waxy ears • The long term effects of untreated ectoparasites can include: – Anaemia – Self trauma – Secondary skin infections – Death

Endoparasites • These are parasites that live inside the body of the host. • Many absorb nutrients through their body surface. • Examples are: – Tapeworms – Roundworms (Hookworms, Whipworms, Heartworm are roundworms) – Flukes – Protazoan (coccidia, toxoplamsa gondii and giardia) Fluke Tapeworm

Clinical signs: • An animal with endoparasites can exhibit the following clinical signs: – Vomiting – Diarrhoea (+/blood/mucus) – Weight loss – Visual worms – Scooting – Self harming • The long term effects of untreated endoparasites can include: – Anaemia – Generalised weakness – Secondary bacterial infections – Death

Female (left) – 25 -40 cm Male (right) – 15 -25 cm Small intestine of a pig AG-ICB-USP

Task Make a flash card for ONE OF EACH THE 4 parasites provided. This must include: • Its name and a photo • Animals it infects • Signs/Symptoms of it If you get time… • Treatments available to prevent and cure it • Its lifecycle