Ectoparasites are organisms which inhabit the skin or outgrowths of the

skin of another organism (the host) for various periods, and may be detrimental to
the organism. Various ectoparasites cause significant infestations in many kinds of
domestic animals including livestock, pets, poultry, fish and bees. Many of these
ectoparasites (e.g. most lice) are host specific, while others (e.g. many ticks)
parasitize a wider range of hosts. Several ectoparasites currently associated with
domestic animals have been acquired by the introduction of either host or parasite
into new regions, as animals have become domesticated throughout the world.
Many ectoparasites are known to be vectors of pathogens, which the parasites
typically transmit to hosts while feeding or (occasionally) while defaecating.
However, ectoparasites especially in large aggregations may also debilitate
domestic animals in other ways by causing the following disease: -
Demodicosis or Demodectic mange; Is a disease that affects the cattle and is
caused by a parasitic organism called Demodex bovis. It is a disease that affects the
hair follicles and sebaceous glands of the host. Problems caused by demodicosis in
cattle are primarily a result of the damage caused to the hides. In some rare cases
demodicosis may become generalized and fatal. The clinical signs and symptoms
of demodicosis may include having pea‐sized nodules containing caseous material
and mites particularly on the withers, lateral neck, back and flanks. Concurrent
pyoderma may also occur, leading to furunculosis with ulceration and crust
formation. In many cases, the pharmacological treatment of demodicosis is
unnecessary as the disease resolves spontaneously. Though, the organophosphate
trichlorphon used on three occasions 2 days apart and systemic macrocyclic
lactones may sometimes be effective.
Scabies; Is a form of mange in goats caused by an Arachnida called Sarcoptes
scabiei. It mainly affects the skin. It may also affect sheep. In goats the condition is
often chronic, and may have been present simply as ‘skin disease’ for many
months before definitive diagnosis has been made. As in other sarcoptic infections,
the main signs are irritation with encrustations, loss of hair and excoriation from
rubbing and scratching. In long-standing cases the skin becomes thickened and
nodules may develop on the less well haired parts of the skin, including the
muzzle, around the eyes and inside the ears. Following the pharmacological
treatment, in sheep, treatment and control are similar to those described for the
more common psoroptic mange. In goats, repeated treatment is often necessary,
sometimes over several months in long-standing cases. The acaricide which has
been most widely used is gamma-HCH, and where this is no longer available there
may be problems obtaining a suitable drug licensed for use in goats. Although not
licensed for the treatment of milking goats, a single injection of systemic
macrocyclic lactone may be effective. Corticosteroid therapy also has been
reported to aid recovery as it suppresses the pruritus.
Anaemia; Is a condition in which the blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood
cells. Anaemia results from a lack of red blood cells or dysfunctional red blood
cells in the body. This leads to reduced oxygen flow to the body's organs.
Haematopinus suis is the pig louse which causes anaemia by sucking blood, and is
the main route of swinepox transmission. The clinical signs may include
occasional mild irritation. It usually occurs in the folds of the neck and jowl,
around the ears and on the flanks and backs. The majority of nymphs occur on the
head region. However, irritation is caused by the small but frequent blood meals,
each of which is taken via a different puncture wound. In heavy infestations, pigs
are restless and fail to thrive. The most important feature of pediculosis in pigs is
probably skin damage from scratching with reduction in hide value. In the most
severe cases, pigs may rub most of the hair off their bodies and if acquired by
piglets, H. suis infestation may retard growth. The pharmacological treatment may
include avermectins given parenterally or the organophosphate phosmet
administered as a pour-on have both proved highly effective as a single treatment.
Amitraz and deltamethrin are also effective. Once lice have been diagnosed it is
essential to treat the entire herd.
Cheyletiellosis; also known as walking dandruff due to skin scales being carried
by the mites is a highly contagious mild dermatitis in cats caused by Cheyletiella
blakei. The mite is not usually highly pathogenic and is more often found in young
animals in good physical condition. Long-haired cats tend to be more commonly
infested than short-haired cats. This parasite is readily transferred to humans even
on short contact, where it causes severe irritation and intense pruritus. The clinical
signs may present as mild eczema like skin conditions and associated pruritus. It is
a characteristic of the dermatitis caused by Cheyletiella that many skin scales are
shed into the fur, giving it a powdery or mealy appearance, and the presence of
moving mites among this debris has given it the common name of ‘walking
dandruff’. In many cases there is very little skin reaction or pruritus. In the rare
severe case, heavy infestations can result in the formation of small, crusty,
erythematous papules involving much of the body surface, crusts are formed but
often there is only slight hair loss. On the pharmacological treatment, cats can be
treated with a number of topical acaricidal shampoos such as carbamates (e.g.
carbaryl) and fipronil. Selenium sulphide shampoos have also been recommended
for cats. Some products with low residual activity may require three successive
weekly treatments.
Ear mite disease; Is an infection of the ears of most especially the dogs presenting
with dark waxy exudates caused by Otodectes cynotis. Most animals harbour this
mite, and in adult animals it has almost a commensal association with the host. The
signs generally may include the ear canals becoming inflamed and excessively
moistened with accumulations of brown–black exudates in cats and grey deposits.
This is accompanied by pruritus and intense itching that causes the host to scratch
the ears, shake the head or hold it to one side and turn in circles. Signs of severe
untreated cases include emaciation, spasms, self-induced trauma and convulsions,
including epileptiform fits. Perforation of the tympanic membrane can result. The
clinical signs may be seen in dogs at an earlier stage than in cats and foxes, which
do not appear to be affected until the infestation has reached high numbers and the
disease is advanced. The pharmacological treatment includes topical application of
systemic selamectin and imidacloprid has been found to give good control in both
dogs and cats. There are also many effective preparations available commercially
as eardrops including in dogs, permethrin, thiabendazole and monosulphiram. With
these preparations treatment should be repeated to kill any newly hatched mites. In
cats, treatments with milbemycin and ivermectin may be used, and in both cats and
dogs fipronil eardrops may be effective. When eardrops are used the ear canal
should first be thoroughly cleaned; after the eardrops have been instilled, the base
of the ear should be massaged to disperse the oily preparation.
Conclusively, ectoparasitic diseases have been reported in travelers returning from
both developed and developing nations. Ectoparasitic diseases afflict the skin and
its appendages and orifices especially the scalp, facial and pubic hairs, external
ears, nares, orbits, eyelids, genitourinary and rectal orifices. Like endoparasites,
ectoparasites may be either obligatory parasites which need to feed on human hosts
to complete their life cycles or facultative parasites which prefer to feed on non-
human hosts and infest humans only as accidental or dead‐end hosts.