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COMMON EXOTIC ECTOPARASITES - Coggle Diagram
COMMON EXOTIC ECTOPARASITES
Rabbit
Psoroptes Cuniculi
AKA ear canker
rabbit specific
infect outer pinnae
found on skin surface of external auditory canal
don't burrow into skin, but can pierce it to feed on blood, serum, epithelial cells and aural exudates
can become overwhelming and spread into inner ear canal
if untreated, bacterial infections can develop and the tympanic membrane can be penetrated
removal of crusty lesions can be painful, so care must be taken to not cause too much distress
Ivermectin, imidacloprid and moxidectin have all been found to treat this infection.
Cheyletiella
AKA walking dandruff
can see with naked eye
excess scale produced by the skin due to the infection
zoonotic
might not survive long on human but can bite causing red spots and pruritis
Appropriate hygiene and the application of preventative medication such as Xeno help to prevent their spread.
Myaisis/ Fly Strike
flies laying eggs in animals
Video
Bedding
should be checked and changed frequently to prevent the rabbit from sitting in their own faeces and urine, causing sore skin and attracting flies. These checks should be especially frequent in the warmer summer months.
diet
should be appropriate, and mainly consist of hay. Poor diet may cause gastrointestinal upset, causing the rabbit to have looser faeces which get stuck around the anus. Also, inappropriate nutrition can lead to excessive weight gain, meaning the rabbit is unable to appropriately groom themselves.
Rearguard
the application of Rearguard helps prevent any eggs laid from hatching and developing in to maggots. It does not kill adult maggots. This should not however be used in place of appropriate husbandry.
Guinea pig
Trixacarus Caviae
most common ectoparasite in guinea pigs
mites burrow under the skin and cause sarcoptic mange
clinical signs
hairless areas of the skin, particularly on the head, abdomen, ears.
Yellow crust, dried serum lesions.
Secondary skin infections are also likely to occur.
Pruritus can be so severe it causes seizures
have potential to be zoonotic
They are transferred by direct contact, so all guinea pigs should be treated with ivermectin if one of them is diagnosed.
Gliricola Porcelli
Species specific chewing lice that cause mild to moderate hair loss and crusting
They can bee seen moving at the hair base on the skin.
They are easily spread between guinea pigs, and can be picked up from the outside environment, so all the guinea pigs in the household should be treated.
They can be treated with medicated shampoo designed for guinea pig lice.
Birds
Dermanyssus Gallinae
‘Poultry red mite’ sucks blood from chickens and other birds
All stages of this mite’s lifecycle live off of the host, in the bed and environment
At night, they migrate to the host to feed.
Chronic infection causes irritation and debility and can cause anaemia in extreme cases.
Proper cleaning of the environment and treatment of the bird with an acaricide are the appropriate control methods.
Knemidocoptes spp.
These mites cause ‘scaly leg’ and ‘scaly face’ in birds, particularly chicken and budgerigars.
They infect the skin or feather follicles of birds.
These mites can also be treated with an acaricide and proper cleaning of the environment.