VME 3002 Exam QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Cats in the U.S. - CORRECT ANSWER Gastrointestinal & arthropod parasites common
- GI: Helimnths (worms) or protozoans
- Arthropod: fleas, ticks mites
Asymptomatic or w/non-specific symptoms
- may NOT notice if outdoor cat
Prevalence can reach 45% + in some populations
Toxocara cati (Ascarid/roundworms) - CORRECT ANSWER - small intestine
- Eggs: large, thick shell, pitted
Adults: medium size
- Females: up to 10 cm
- Males: up to 7 cm
Cuticular modifications: Algae - CORRECT ANSWER Alae
- flare out anterior end, helps to identify species
- 3 large lips, microscope NOT needed cause of how large
Toxocara cati - life cycle - CORRECT ANSWER "Tracheal Migration"
- larva hatches from egg in duodenum
- penetrates intestine - liver/lung migration
- Return to trachea - coughed up/swallowed - stomach
- SI - mature to adult
,Transmammary transmission ONLY if queen is infected during lactation
Somatic migration MAY occur in cats - larvae arrest development
Paratenic hosts play important role in infection
Toxocara cati prepatent period - CORRECT ANSWER 8 weeks
CAPC stands for - CORRECT ANSWER Companion Animal Parasite Council
Toxocara cati disease - CORRECT ANSWER Moderate infections in kittens
- pot bellied appearance
- general failure to thrive
- MANY asymptomatic
Case reports indicate VARIED signs: anorexia, vomiting, gastric ulcers
Larval migrations can cause lesions in associated organs
Toxocara cati diagnosis - CORRECT ANSWER Fecal flotation, fecal antigen, adults
Toxocara cati treatment & prevention - CORRECT ANSWER - Kittens DO NOT need to be
treated until 6 weeks, can begin treatment at 2 weeks (typically for hookworms) & give preventative
- Treat nursing queens
- MANY monthly preventatives are efficacious (effective) against T. cati and will even prevent other
nematodes (hookworms & heartworms)
- Prevent hunting especially rodents
,- Pick up/remove feces: eliminate eggs
- Routine annual fecal exams - risk for T. cati is LIFE LONG in cats
Toxocara Zoonosis (Visceral Larva Migrans - VLM) - CORRECT ANSWER - Toxocara spp.
Chronic granulomatous lesion due to larval migrations
- often liver, lungs, brain (NLM), eye (OLM)
- enlarged liver
- loss of weight & appetite
- persistent cough
Other symptoms:
- hepatomegaly
- pulmonary disease
- progressive neurological disease
- chronic abdominal pain
- other non-specific symptoms
Toxocara Zoonosis (VLM) - paratenic host - CORRECT ANSWER Humans are paratenic host
- children that are "dirt eaters" in parks, playgrounds
Eggs are long lived
Ancylostoma tubaeformae (hookworm) - CORRECT ANSWER SI of cats
Adults: medium size
- up to 12mm
- MAY be red
Other hookworms in cats - CORRECT ANSWER Ancylostoma tubaeformae
, - SI of cats
- 3 pair of teeth (buccal cavity)
Ancylostoma braziliense
- SI of dogs AND cats
- 2 pair of teeth
***common in FL***
CAPC: feline hookworms - CORRECT ANSWER Does better in warmer climates
Hookworm life cycle - CORRECT ANSWER L3 - larva infective stage
Oral infection
- larvae enter wall of stomach, develop
- Re-enter lumen, mature in SI
- Pre patent period: 18-28 days
Skin penetration
- Larvae migrate through lungs, coughed up/swallowed
- Mature in SI
- Pre patent period: 19-25 days
Paratenic host
- Rodents & cockroaches harbor infective larvae
Transmammary & transuterine transmission are thought NOT to occur
Ancylostoma disease - CORRECT ANSWER Voracious blood feeders
- Anemia, diarrhea, weight loss
- severity depends on # of worms
CORRECT ANSWERS
Cats in the U.S. - CORRECT ANSWER Gastrointestinal & arthropod parasites common
- GI: Helimnths (worms) or protozoans
- Arthropod: fleas, ticks mites
Asymptomatic or w/non-specific symptoms
- may NOT notice if outdoor cat
Prevalence can reach 45% + in some populations
Toxocara cati (Ascarid/roundworms) - CORRECT ANSWER - small intestine
- Eggs: large, thick shell, pitted
Adults: medium size
- Females: up to 10 cm
- Males: up to 7 cm
Cuticular modifications: Algae - CORRECT ANSWER Alae
- flare out anterior end, helps to identify species
- 3 large lips, microscope NOT needed cause of how large
Toxocara cati - life cycle - CORRECT ANSWER "Tracheal Migration"
- larva hatches from egg in duodenum
- penetrates intestine - liver/lung migration
- Return to trachea - coughed up/swallowed - stomach
- SI - mature to adult
,Transmammary transmission ONLY if queen is infected during lactation
Somatic migration MAY occur in cats - larvae arrest development
Paratenic hosts play important role in infection
Toxocara cati prepatent period - CORRECT ANSWER 8 weeks
CAPC stands for - CORRECT ANSWER Companion Animal Parasite Council
Toxocara cati disease - CORRECT ANSWER Moderate infections in kittens
- pot bellied appearance
- general failure to thrive
- MANY asymptomatic
Case reports indicate VARIED signs: anorexia, vomiting, gastric ulcers
Larval migrations can cause lesions in associated organs
Toxocara cati diagnosis - CORRECT ANSWER Fecal flotation, fecal antigen, adults
Toxocara cati treatment & prevention - CORRECT ANSWER - Kittens DO NOT need to be
treated until 6 weeks, can begin treatment at 2 weeks (typically for hookworms) & give preventative
- Treat nursing queens
- MANY monthly preventatives are efficacious (effective) against T. cati and will even prevent other
nematodes (hookworms & heartworms)
- Prevent hunting especially rodents
,- Pick up/remove feces: eliminate eggs
- Routine annual fecal exams - risk for T. cati is LIFE LONG in cats
Toxocara Zoonosis (Visceral Larva Migrans - VLM) - CORRECT ANSWER - Toxocara spp.
Chronic granulomatous lesion due to larval migrations
- often liver, lungs, brain (NLM), eye (OLM)
- enlarged liver
- loss of weight & appetite
- persistent cough
Other symptoms:
- hepatomegaly
- pulmonary disease
- progressive neurological disease
- chronic abdominal pain
- other non-specific symptoms
Toxocara Zoonosis (VLM) - paratenic host - CORRECT ANSWER Humans are paratenic host
- children that are "dirt eaters" in parks, playgrounds
Eggs are long lived
Ancylostoma tubaeformae (hookworm) - CORRECT ANSWER SI of cats
Adults: medium size
- up to 12mm
- MAY be red
Other hookworms in cats - CORRECT ANSWER Ancylostoma tubaeformae
, - SI of cats
- 3 pair of teeth (buccal cavity)
Ancylostoma braziliense
- SI of dogs AND cats
- 2 pair of teeth
***common in FL***
CAPC: feline hookworms - CORRECT ANSWER Does better in warmer climates
Hookworm life cycle - CORRECT ANSWER L3 - larva infective stage
Oral infection
- larvae enter wall of stomach, develop
- Re-enter lumen, mature in SI
- Pre patent period: 18-28 days
Skin penetration
- Larvae migrate through lungs, coughed up/swallowed
- Mature in SI
- Pre patent period: 19-25 days
Paratenic host
- Rodents & cockroaches harbor infective larvae
Transmammary & transuterine transmission are thought NOT to occur
Ancylostoma disease - CORRECT ANSWER Voracious blood feeders
- Anemia, diarrhea, weight loss
- severity depends on # of worms
