PARASITOLOGY PRACTICAL - TICKS, LICE AND FLEAS
Learning outcomes
In the practical spot examination you are likely to be given one or more of a tick, louse and flea specimen to identify. This will usually be on a microscope slide, or a specimen in a flask under a stereomicroscope, or a photograph. You will be provided with some clinical history of importance in the identification. You will be asked some supplementary questions about importance to disease, life cycle, etc.
Important types of these parasites to know are as follows:
Tick, Ixodes ricinus sheep tick, all stages of life cycle,
Tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the tropical dog tick, adult stage only,
Histological section of tick attachment site - what is the characteristics of this?
Sucking lice, such as Linognathus.
Chewing lice, such as Bovicola
Bird lice, such as Menacanthus
Fleas, such as Ctenocephalides, adult and larva
Note that you should learn genus names and vernacular names as given in the practical handouts but full species names only when provided in the handouts
Demonstration material Answers to worksheet questions