External Parasites (Fleas & Lice)

Front 1

What approximate size are lice?

Back 1

2 mm

Front 2

How are lice usually transmitted?

Back 2

Animal to animal contact

(less often fomites)

Front 3

Chewing lice (name & description)

Back 3

Mallophaga

- parasites of birds and mammals

- wider head than thorax

- small tarsal claws

- louse colour is yellow

Front 4

Sucking lice (name & description)

Back 4

Anoplura

- parasites of mammals ONLY

- narrower head than thorax

- large pincer-like tarsal claws (for clinging to hair)

- piercing mouth parts to suck blood

- louse colour is grey to red

Front 5

Lice eggs & location

Back 5

Nits, securely attached to hair

Front 6

Louse Life Cycle

Back 6

Simple metamorphosis, spent entirely on host

Adult on skin lays nits on hair

Nymph hatches from egg (looks like adult but smaller)

Nymph molts to adult

Front 7

Mallophaga problems to host

Back 7

Pruritus

Hair/feather loss

Front 8

Anoplura problems to host

Back 8

Pruritus

Hair loss

Anemia (loss of red blood cells)

Front 9

Flea Description

Back 9

Small, wingless insects with powerful hind legs for jumping onto host

Piercing, blood-sucking mouth parts

Front 10

Flea hosts

Back 10

Dogs, cats, humans, pigs, rodents & birds

Front 11

Fleas of Cats

Back 11

Ctenocephalides felis

(C. felis)

Front 12

Fleas of Dogs

Back 12

Ctenocephalides canis

(C. canis)

Front 13

Fleas of Humans

Back 13

Pulex irritans (will infect dogs and cats)

Front 14

Fleas of Poultry

Back 14

Echidnophaga gallinacea (can infect dogs and cats)

Front 15

Flea Life Cycle

Back 15

Complex metamorphosis

1. Adult

2. Egg

3. Larva

4. Pupa

Front 16

Adult Flea

Back 16

Lives on host

Dependent on blood meals

Produce large amounts of feces (flea dirt) that has undigested blood in it

Flea dirt falls off host to ground.. feeds larvae

Susceptible to treatments

Front 17

Flea Egg

Back 17

Female produces many eggs that will fall onto ground to hatch

Hatch within 2 weeks

Resistant to treatments (shell)

Front 18

Flea Larva

Back 18

Live in environment (like rugs & baseboards)

Feed on flea dirt & other organic material

Pupate in a week to a month (depending on environment temp)

Very susceptible to treatments

Front 19

Flea Pupa

Back 19

Can stay in pupa for up to 1 year

Stimulated to come out by warmth, vibrations & carbon dioxide from host

Emerged flea jumps onto host

Can survive one week without FIRST blood meal

Very resistant to treatments

Front 20

Main Pathology Caused by Fleas

Back 20

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

-Host can be allergic to saliva of flea

-Reaction: scratching causing red areas & crusty sores

-Only need a couple of fleas every 2 weeks to keep animal problematic

Front 21

Pathology caused by Fleas (2)

Back 21

Transfer of disease

-ex: tapeworm

Anemia (if enough fleas)

Front 22

What areas need to be treated when treating fleas?

Back 22

Pet (host)

House

Yard

Front 23

Which life stages of the flea are treatable?

Back 23

Larva & Adult

Front 24

3 Ways to Treat a Pet for Fleas

Back 24

1. Adulticide

2. Insect Growth Regulator (IGR)

3. Insect Development Inhibitor (IDI)

Front 25

How to Treat the House for Fleas

Back 25

Vacuum

Launder bedding

Spray house with insecticide

* Pay attention to hot spots *

Repeat after 2 weeks & then every 2 months during flea season

Front 26

How to Treat the Yard for Fleas

Back 26

Dispose of all garbage

Cut lawn short/branches back

Board off porches & dark areas

Clean kennels

Spray with insecticide

Repeat as necessary!!