Arthropod Ectoparasites in Cats

Arthropod Ectoparasites in CatsCHAPTER 2LITERATURE reappraisal2.1Origin of cat domesticationThe domestic cat Felis catus was originated from the savage cat species, Felis silveteris which distributed from Europe, Middle East, parts of Asia and throughout the Africa continent (Garman, 2000). Cats were scratch line taming in Egypt more or less 3 600 twelvemonths ago (Serpell, 1988 Coleman et al., 1997) but the late finding suggests that the domestication took place earlier in the Fertile, Cres centime well-nigh 10 000 years ago.Cats can be categorised into troika groups match to where and how they live. The groups argon domestic pet cats, free roaming stray cats and feral cats. interior(prenominal) pet cats be those owned by humans and their resources atomic yield 18 provided by the owners, stray cats be not owned and they freely move however, they ar still depending on resources supply by human, meanwhile the feral ar those that live and reproduce in the wild and hunt ing for their resources and needs.In Malaysia, or so household owned at least one cat as a pet and the cat populations number increases each year (Bedi, 2011). Average animals received monthly be between 600 700 animals as account by The Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Malaysia.2.2The host ( seethe cats)Stray cats atomic number 18 free ranging cats and can be found in and around the cities, towns, rural properties and they are homeless. They are not owned however, they return to human habitation (Ogan and Jurek, 1997) since they are depending on resources that supply by human.Stray cats could as well as define as those that escaped home and unable to return or an abandoned cat that seeks its shelter. According to Holton (2007) if a stray cat natural in the wild, it can be considered as feral which the free ranging number of the domestic cat. Domestic cats lifespan as pets are between 15 to 17 years. However for stray cats, estimated time of vitality is o nly between 4 to 5 years (Ogan and Jurek, 1997).Stray cats are usually found in contact with human kind and soft seen foraging for food around the areas where food is abundant such as markets, food courts, on the streets and around the cities. These cats are unc everyplaceed to numerous types of patrimonial pathogens such as rabies, toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis. Stray cats are also good vectors to bloodsuckingal organism that are transmittable which can be potentially legal transfer harm to humans health. about ectoparasites can cause jumble lesions that are accompanied by pruritus, erythema, excoriation, papules and crusts (Wall, 2007) after fed on animals and as well as on human.2.3Arthropod EctoparasitesThe phylum arthropoda contains over 85 per cent of all know species of animal. Most common arthropod ectoparasites that associated with cats are from class class class Insecta and class Arachnid. Arthropoda is a Geek word arthros which means a joint and podos means foot. Three basic characteristics of the Arthropods fit appendages, segment physical structure and external skeleton.The entire body is cover with a tough flake off called cuticle which in parts is chemically hardened to form a protective exoskeleton. The in truth simple heart is dorsal, whereas the ganglionated nerve cord is adaxial but in the head region it connects to a dorsal gigantic ganglion, much called the brain. The body cavity called coelom, which is the space between the alimentary television channel and body wall, is often called a haemocoele because it contains the arthropods blood (Macmillan, 1980)Arthropod ectoparasites occupy a major impact on husbandry, productivity and welfare of domestic animals (Colebrook and Wall, 2004). Arthropod ectoparasites have strong association with their hosts, they are blood-sucking organisms which live and feed on nutrient-rich fluids that are offered by vertebrates and also may become opportunistic feeder on human.2.4Physiology and pathogenicity of ectoparasitic arthropodsThe small, complex, mobile arthropods usually have a short life, but their populations are maintained at a high level because of the large number of offspring and a short developmental period, usually a some days to a few weeks, although some species require a year or more. The great adaptability of arthropods is evidenced by the evolutionary changes which work to their advantage. Their jointed appendages enhance their capability for dispersal. The body covering of the terrestrial forms provides resistance to desiccation.The injuries produced by ectoparasitic arthropods are caused directly by the ectoparasite or indirectly by the transmission of disease organisms. Arthropods may cause injury or irritation through annoyance, blood loss, dermatitis, myiasis, envonomization, and allergy. Direct lesions result from the biting, sucking, stinging, or burrowing of the adult and im jump on parasites.2.5 Classification of Arthropod EctoparasitesPh ylum arthropoda (figure 2.5) classified to two classes, which are class Insecta and class Arachnida. Class Insecta that associated with this study is consist of two orders which are order Phthitraptera known as louse or lice and order Siphonoptera known as fleas. Meanwhile from class Arachnida, only subclass Acari that associated with this study. Subclass Acari consist of four orders which are order Prostigmata known as chiggers, order Astigmata known as fur mites, order Mesostigmata known as mites and lastly order Metastigmata which is known as ticks.2.5.1 Class InsectaComstock (1949) stated that there are twenty-six orders categorized under class Insecta. Of these, eight are known to be including parasitic species, while other orders may include incidental and accidental parasites. Members often characterized as tri-segmented bodies, into head, thorax and abdomen. All members have three pairs of legs and usually pairs of wings. Some insects such as fleas and lice are drop of wing s.2.5.2 Class ArachnidaGenerally, members are characterized as segmented body into two parts which are the cephalothorax and the abdomen. in that location are no antennae or wings. Most adults have eight legs save a few species of mites that only have one up to three pairs of legs (Roberts and Janovy, 2005) .Only subclass Acari that associated with domestic animal, which consists of Mites and Ticks. Acari divided into seven orders. Of these, four orders are known in parasitic species which are Prostigamata (Chiggers), Astigmata (Fur mites), Mesostigmata (Mites) and Metastigmata (Ticks).Mites have smaller size that enables them to occupy a very wide range of habitats. Most species are free surviving but there are also parasitic species living on plants or animals included invertebrates and vertebrates (Fain, 1994).Ticks are obligate blood-feeding parasites for cold and warm lusty vertebrates with a worldwide distribution (Cacho et al., 1994).2.6Common ectoparasites infesting cats and its distributionStray cats compensate infested with ectoparasites when they wander outdoors searching for food and nearly often exposed to accidental ingestion of parasites. Common ectoparasites that associated with cats include fleas, lice, mites and ticks. Previous studies in Malaysia reported parasites infecting the stray cat population from Peninsular Malaysia have given goodish data on the diversity and levels of infection (Lee et al., 1993)2.6.1 Fleas (Order Siphonaptera)Fleas have a segmented body divided into head, thorax and abdomen. For adult fleas, the thorax consists of six legs. Fleas are small approximately 1 8 mm yearn and sensationalistic brown to black wingless insects. Adult fleas are laterally form usually brown in colour and readily to jump (Gullan and Cranston, 2005).The most common and important cat flea is Ctenocephalides felis (figure 2.6.1). It is a ecumenical species and a pest in the urban environment. This species are ubiquitous throughout th e world wherever suitable host reside. It is laterally compressed, wingless, about 2mm long and reddish brown to black colour. It has sloping forehead, hind tibia which lacks an out apical tooth and coombs which differentiate it with other species. The male Ctenocephalides felis is fairly smaller than the female and has complex, snail shaped genitalia.Fleas undergo a effected lifecycle which consists of egg, larva, pupa and adult. Immature horizontal surfaces of flea do not resemble the adult and occupy very different ecological niches. On average an adult flea lives for 6 to 12 months and has been postulated to live for 2 years. A female adult flea can mature eggs and may lay 300 to 1000 eggs over its lifetimes in average 3 to 25 eggs per day, if it has access to its indigenous host. According to Rust and Dryden (1997), about 15 eggs fall into the realm or the carpet. The eggs then hatch and produce larvae that crawl in the environment to feed. Flea larvae are elongate, have no legs and are sparsely covered with long setae. They have small head with simple antennae but lack eyes. They feed on organic debris found in the approach or house of the host. The larva undergoes two moults before becoming the third stage larva before developing into a silken cocoon. It remains in the pupa for 1 to 2 weeks before the adult flea emerges spontaneously from the pupal case when they adept the presence of an appropriate host.