FFA Vet Tech CDE Parasite & Disease Descriptions · Web viewFFA Vet Tech CDE Parasite & Disease Descriptions. Canine Distemper. This viral disease affects dogs and may become fatal

FFA Vet Tech CDE Parasite & Disease Descriptions

Rabies

This disease affects all mammals. Primary reservoirs of this disease are wild and domestic canines, cats, skunks,

raccoons and bats. The disease is transmitted via bite wounds or saliva. The clinical signs are acute, fatal, viral

encephalomyelitis with headache, fever, progressive paralysis and death. Any companion animal that has been

bitten by a wild animal or another companion animal (showing symptoms, especially excessive drooling) should

be considered at risk of this disease.

Any wild animal biting a companion animal should be euthanized and a sample of brain tissue should be analyzed. Bite wounds should be cleaned immediately. A vaccine is available for humans and some animal species. Dogs in

particular should be vaccinated for this disease.


LeptospirosisThis disease has a worldwide distribution in both domestic and wild animals. Different

species of the bacterium are common in different species of animals. Bacteria are shed

in the urine and may affect other animals.

Manifestations of the disease are diverse, ranging from inapparent infection to severe

systemic illness with fever, mylagia, hemorrhage into the skin and mucous

membranes and potentially liver and kidney failure. Diagnosis is made via a rising antibody

titer or isolation of the organism.


SalmonellaThis disease is found worldwide among humans

and animals. Most laboratory rodents are now free of this disease, but it is still found in dogs, cats,

birds and especially reptiles and amphibians.

Infection occurs by the fecal – oral route via contaminated food or water, or direct contact with

infected animals.

The disease produces an acute, febrile enterocolitis (diarrhea). The disease is more severe in

immunocompromised individuals.

The disease is diagnosed by isolation of the organism. Purchasing animals certified free of the

disease organism, using personal protective equipment and following good personal hygiene

will help to prevent the disease.


ToxoplasmosisThis disease has a worldwide distribution in many

mammalian species. MOST infections are from cats.

Infection results from ingestion of infectious oocysts in food and water contaminated by cat feces.

The disease usually produces an asymptomatic or mild illness with fever, myalgia, and lymphadenopathy.

Disease can be severe in immunocompromised people and harmful to a fetus early in pregnancy. Fetal death

may occur.

Infection can be diagnosed by isolation of the organism or a rising antibody titer. Personnel should use good

personal hygiene and maintain rigorous sanitation of cat rooms. Pregnant women (unless they are known to

have antibodies to this disease) should be advised of the fetal infection. Cat feces should be removed promptly

before oocysts become infectious; gloves should be worn.


MalocclusionThis condition is one in which the front teeth do not align properly. It is most common in rodents

and rabbits. If the teeth are allowed to grow unchecked, they may actually prevent the animal from eating properly. The teeth may also grow

through the lower jaw and / or into the nasal cavity.

Animals exhibiting this condition should never be used for breeding.

The condition is treated by clipping the teeth as needed so that the animal can eat properly.


Canine DistemperThis viral disease affects dogs and may become fatal. The severity of the disease symptoms will vary from a transient, subclinical infection to a severe fatal disease that involves

several different organ systems. This variability is due to the differing virulence of various virus strains and differences in

host immunity.

The initial phase of the infection is associated with fever, transient anorexia, lethargy and a mild serous ocular

discharge after an approximate 9 to 14 day incubation period. As the virus spreads to the respiratory and

gastrointestinal system, mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharge, coughing, diarrhea and occasionally vomiting are noted. Many dogs are anorectic at this point and severely

dehydrated. Involvement of the central nervous system may occur and can be the only sign manifested by some dogs.

These dogs may develop seizures or other evidence of neurological disease. Some dogs will appear to recover from the severe respiratory or gastrointestinal signs, but weeks or months later will develop neurological signs that either are

fatal or require euthanasia.Routine disinfection is usually effective in destroying the

virus in a hospital or kennel.


Feline Leukemia

This viral disease affects cats. The virus is spread through direct contact through

grooming, sharing food dishes and fighting. The virus is easily killed in the environment

and isolation of the infected cat is adequate to prevent transmission to susceptible cats. Most cats that are exposed to the virus successfully eliminate the infection. 1 to 3 per cent of cats

in single-cat and up to 30 percent of cats in multiple cat households will be become

persistently infected with the virus. These infected cats then are susceptible to a host of

related diseases.

Effective vaccines are available to prevent this disease.


Feline PanleukopeniaThis parvoviral disease of cats is potentially severe and highly contagious.

Symptoms are feline distemper and infectious enteritis.

The typical clinical signs include lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea after a 7 day incubation period. Characteristically the feces are yellowish, semiformed to

fluid and may be blood tinged. Severe dehydration may be present. Cats will occasionally hang their heads over the water bowl but will not drink. The

temperature may be elevated or subnormal. Kittens and young cats appear to be more severely affected.

Treatment is primarily supportive. The most important therapy is the correction of fluid and electrolyte inbalances and prevention of sepsis by the use of broad

spectrum antibiotics. Control of vomiting and diarrhea is usually indicated. The animal may also exhibit low blood sugar and be extremely weak and / or have

seizures.

A diagnosis is based on the presence of clinical signs in the presence of a low total leukocyte count (less than 2000 WBC per MM3). Diagnosis can be confirmed by

virus isolation and serological and histopathological characteristics.

Prognosis for recovery is good if the animal survives the first 3 to 6 days of severe clinical signs.

If the queen is infected during pregnancy, fetal death or congenital defects in the kitten may occur. If the fetus is infected just prior to or immediately after birth, the development of the cerebellum may be affected. These kittens show balance and

coordination problems beginning at age 3 to 4 weeks. This disease is infrequently seen because of the availability of effective vaccines.


Feline Aids

This viral disease affects cats. It is found worldwide. It causes primary

immunosuppression. Common clinical signs of infection with this virus include gingivitis,

chronic diarrhea, generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, conjunctivitis, rhinitis,

and dermatitis. Most cats infected with this disease will not become immune. The disease is

spread by inoculation of the virus through cat bites. Transmission of the virus by direct contact through grooming, sharing of food

dishes and close contact can occur, but is less common. No treatment or vaccine is available.

FFA Vet Tech CDE Parasite & Disease Description

Heartworm

This parasite affects dogs, cats and even humans. Adults live in the right side of the heart in the

pulmonary artery. They are free living. The problem is most prevalent in the southern United States, but does

occur in Pennsylvania. The disease is spread by mosquitoes.

Effects: Damage to the pulmonary artery lining, compromised blood flow and fluid leaks from the

lungs.

Clinical signs: Deep cough, intolerance to exercise, irregular heart beat. A light infection may produce no

symptoms.


Fleas

The adults are dark reddish brown, wingless, hard-bodies (difficult to crush between the fingers), have 3 pairs of legs

and are flattened vertically or side to side allowing easy movement between the hair, fur or feathers. They are

excellent jumpers. They have piercing – sucking mouth parts and spines on the body projecting backwards. The

adult feeds on blood of the host. The female lays 15 to 20 eggs per day. The eggs are loosely held in the hair coat and

drop off as the animal moves around. Eggs hatch almost everywhere they fall.

The most common symptom is itching or scratching. If your pet has these organisms, they will attack you also.

These organisms are controlled by a coordinated effort of strict sanitation, pet treatment and premise treatment – both

indoors and outdoors.


Hookworm

This is a particularly destructive parasite of dogs and cats that feeds on the walls of the small intestine. The

parasite changes feeding sites frequently causing hemorrhaging that leads to anemia and protein loss.

Untreated puppies frequently die.

Larva is ingested, absorbed or passed to the host by indirect means and migrates to the lungs via the

bloodstream. From the lungs larvae pass into the trachea where they partially develop, are coughed up

and then swallowed, ending up in the small intestine. The larvae mature, feed, shed eggs in the feces.

Clinical signs: lethargy, anorexia, dull coat, pale mucus membrane, anemia, blood in the stool.


Lice

This is a small wingless insect that is very host specific. This parasite must live on the host at all times. The adult lays an egg called a nit.

The nit is sticky so it attaches to the coat. The nit develops into an immature stage of the adult called a nymph and then into an adult. The life

cycle requires 3 to 5 weeks.

Clinical signs: Adults are visible to the naked eye. This parasite causes intense itching and

may cause hair loss.


Lyme Disease

This disease which affects man and his pets is spread by the bite of several ticks. These ticks are found in wooded or

grassy areas.

Symptoms are a red spreading rash in humans and aching joints and muscles, fatigue, chills, loss of appetite, flu-like symptoms and irritated eyes in both humans and animals.

Diagnosis is based on symptoms and a blood serum test.

Treatment is a strong antibiotic. Vaccines are available for pets.

To control the disease, vaccinate, remove the ticks properly and use tick sprays, and stay out of tick infected areas.


Mange Mites

These organisms are host specific. They live in the hair follicles or burrow into the skin. They

infect other animals by direct contact. A microscope is needed to see this parasite.

A skin scraping is used to diagnose infestation of this parasite.

If the infestation is severe enough it will cause the host’s hair to fall out in patches.


Ear Mites

This organism lives in the outer ear of the host. It causes intense itching causing the host to scratch at

its ear. If the infestation is severe enough there may be large scabby, draining areas in the ear.

Severe infestations are most common in large eared rabbits, but the problem may occur in any animal.


Ringworm

This fungal infection causes the loss of hair, often in large patches. These are circular in

shape, thus the common name.


Pin Worm


Round worms


Tapeworm

This worm is common in both cats and dogs. It has a long, flat, segmented body and a head called a scolex. The

segments contain eggs and look like grains of rice when shed in the feces. An animal is often diagnosed when the owned

sees these segments around the anus or in fresh feces. Adults attach to the wall of the small intestine where they

absorb nutrients. The flea is the vector for this internal parasite.

The parasite is transmitted indirectly by an animal eating a flea or other intermediate host such as rabbits, mice or lice.

Most animals have no symptoms.


Whipworm

This parasite is rare in cats. The name of the parasite comes from the fact that the adult has protrusions at the end of their body. The worm attaches to the large intestine and cecum by threading these protrusions through the intestinal lining.

Transmission is by ingestion of the eggs.

Clinical signs: all are usually mild – diarrhea, emaciation, dehydration, anemia, blood in the stool. In severe cases

death may occur.


Ticks

These blood sucking parasites are most common on dogs and are not host specific.

They are found throughout the United States in grassy and wooded areas. They may spread

diseases, especially Lyme disease.


Coccidia

These are microscopic organisms that infect the intestines of animals. They are identified by fecal

tests. They cause a watery diarrhea which can become bloody. Severe infestations can be a life

threatening problem in young or small pets.

The eggs are usually ingested from contaminated ground. This is a common parasite and is not

necessarily a sign of poor husbandry


Gingivitis

This condition is an inflammation of the gums of an animal. In especially severe cases the tissues that support the teeth are destroyed and the teeth may fall out. It is caused by the long term effects

of plaque deposits.

The condition is treated by cleaning the plaque from the teeth.


Tumors

Documents

FFA Vet Tech CDE Parasite & Disease Descriptions · Web viewFFA Vet Tech CDE Parasite & Disease Descriptions. Canine Distemper. This viral disease affects dogs and may become fatal