VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY: INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS PARASITOLOGY? It is an area of biology which is concerned with the phenomenon of dependence of one living organism on another. It is a science that deals with a) Organisms that take up abode (home, residence etc) temporarily or permanently, on or within other living organisms for the purpose of procuring food. b) It is also a science that deals with the relationship of these organisms to their hosts, (host-parasite relationship).

WHAT IS A PARASITE?

A parasite has been defined by several people in more or less the same way: Parasites are those organisms that find nourishment and habitat on another living organism, without killing it as a predator would, but causing bodily harm to the host. The term parasite is made up of 2 Greek words: Para=situated besides Sitos=food

PARASITISM

Parasitism in the modern concept is the association of two organisms in which one, the parasite, living in or on another organism (different species and called host) gains its livelihood at the expense of the host.

ANIMAL ASSOCIATIONS OTHER THAN PARASITISM

Symbiosis: An association between organisms of different species which is mutually beneficial. (syn=together, bios=house). Associates in symbiosis are called symbionts or symbiotes. Mutualism: Often mutualism is used interchangeably with symbiosis. It is symbiosis in the strict sense. In mutualism, each member of the association benefits the other physiologically. Members of the association are termed Mutuals.
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Commensalism: This is a loose association of organisms where both partners can survive independently of their associates. There is no physiological dependence between them. The associates (commensals) simply live together and share some resource.

Phoresy: This type of relationship is temporal and involves situations where one organism transports, shelters or support another usually without any implications of metabolic dependence on each other.

PARASITISM continued Many degrees of parasitism exist and types of parasites are classified accordingly; 1) Obligate parasites: These are organisms that cannot exist without a host. These are in turn classified into Permanent parasites (normally on host continuously and could be periodic) Temporary parasites according to the time they spend on the host.
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Facultative parasites: These are normally free living organisms, but under certain conditions/ circumstances, may live a parasitic life. These may also be termed as opportunistic parasites. Pseudo-parasites: are accidental parasites in living organisms but are able to survive only for a short period in the host.

PARASITISM continued
Parasites can broadly be classified as : Endo-parasites those that live inside the body of the host. Ecto-parasites those that live outside the body of the host, usually attached to the skin or those that invade the superficial tissues of the host body.

In microbiology, the relationship of microorganism to its host is designated as an infection. This is also an appropriated designation for all animal species that are endo-parasites.
However, the relationship of an ecto-parasite to its host produces an infestation. This is most frequently applied to species of arthropods.

PARASITOLOGY
Parasitology is concerned with the Kingdom Animalia. The organisms of particular interest are:
Helminths (Helminthology) Protozoa (Protozoology) Arthropoda (Entomology & Acalorogy) Molluscs

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ENTOMOLOGY
WHAT IS ENTOMOLOGY? SCIENCE DEALING WITH INSECTS THUS, VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY IS A SCIENCE THAT DEALS WITH INSECTS OF VETERINARY IMPORTANCE. IT IS A BRANCH OF PARASITOLOGY THAT DEALS WITH PARASITIC INSECTS ( ALSO MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY)
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TERM ENTOMOLOGY DERIVED FROM GREEK WORD ENTOMON WHICH MEANS INSECT. STRICTLY, INSECTS ARE 6-LEGGED ANIMALS WITH A DISTINCT HEAD, THORAX AND AN ABDOMEN.

AN INSECT

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INSECTS AND RELATED FORMS

FOR CONVENIENCE, FORMS RELATED TO INSECTS SUCH AS TICKS, MITES AND SPIDERS ARE USUALLY CONSIDERED UNDER ENTOMOLOGY. THESE ORGANISMS DO NOT HAVE DISTINCT BODY PARTS, AND HAVE 8 LEGS.

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WHAT ARE ARTHROPODS?

INSECTS AND THE RELATED FORMS BELONG TO THE PHYLUM ARTHROPODA. PHYLUM ARTHROPODA IS THE LARGEST IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM WITH OVER 800,000 SPECIES

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PHYLUM ARTHROPODA
CLASSES
ARACHNIDA CRUSTACEA CHILOPODA DIPLOPODA PENTASTOMIDA - ticks -crabs -centipedes -millipedes -Tongue-worm -mites -lobsters -spiders -cyclops -scorpions -prawns

INSECTA -flies -lice -fleas -bugs

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CHARACTERISTICS OF ARTHROPODS
ARTHROPODS HAVE 3 MAIN / COMMON CHARACTERISTICS 1) HAVE SEGMENTED APPENDAGES, OR JOINT FEET OR JOINTED LIMBS. THE TERM ARTHROPODA IS DERIVED FROM 2 GREEK WORDS; ARTHROS = JOINT AND PODOS = FOOT. 2) ARTHROPODS HAVE A SKELETON LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BODY FORMING AN EXOSKELETON AS OPPOSED TO THE INTERNAL OR ENDOSKELETON OF VERTEBRATES. .
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EXOSKELETON IS HARDENED STRUCTURE FORMED FROM SECRETED MATERIAL CALLED CUTICLE.

EXOSKELETON SERVES AS A PROTECTIVE ARMOUR FOR THE ORGANS ENCASED BY IT AND FORMS A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE BARRIER AGAINST ENTRY OF MANY PATHOGENS AND INSECTICIDES

CHARACTERISTICS OF ARTHROPODS
CONTD

3)

ARTHROPODS POSSES SEGMENTED BODIES THAT ARE USUALLY DISTINCT EXTERNALLY.

SEGMENTS USUALLY GROUPED INTO BODY REGIONS THAT CARRY OUT SPECIALIZED FUNCTIONS SUCH AS FEEDING, LOCOMOTION ETC.
LEAST SPECIALIZED BODIES HAVE A HEAD AND MULTI-SEGMENTED TRUNK/ ABDOMEN, E.G. MILLIPEDES. MORE SPECIALIZED BODIES ARE DIVIDED INTO HEAD, THORAX AND ABDOMEN, E.G. HOUSEFLIES. DEPENDING ON THEIR SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN THEIR INHERENT CHARACTERISTICS, ARTHROPODS HAVE BEEN GROUPED INTO THE CLASSES MENTIONED ABOVE.

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VETERINARY SIGNIFICANCE OF ARTHROPODS

BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH ARTHROPODS CAN HAVE ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS, AN UNDERSTANDING OF VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY IS AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF COMPREHENSIVE ANIMAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES.
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THE VETERINARY SIGNIFICANCE OF ARTHROPODS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO (2) CATEGORIES BASED ON THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE HOST:
DIRECT DAMAGE INDIRECT DAMAGE

VETERINARY SIGNIFICANCE OF ARTHROPODS contd

DIRECT DAMAGE OF HOSTS DUE TO ARTHROPODS RESULTS FROM A NUMBER OF
ARTHROPOD ACTIVITIES ON AN ANIMAL, E.G. 1) FEEDING ON THE HOSTS BLOOD, TISSUE FLUIDS OR TISSUES CAUSING: ANAMEA MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO HOST TISSUE (WITH SEVERE INFLAMMATION, PAIN AND IRRITATION) LEADING TO:
LOW / DECREASED PRODUCTIVITY OF THE ANIMAL (E.G. LIVEWEIGHT GAIN, MILK, EGGS) LOSS OF CONDITION SOMETIMES DEATH
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2) TOXIC SECRETIONS CERTAIN HAEMATOPHAGOUS ARTHROPODS INOCULATE TOXIC SECRETIONS INTO THE HOST WHILE FEEDING. THIS CAN LEAD TO DEATH OF HOST SOMETIMES.

3) SELF INJURY ANIMALS CAN INJURE THEMSELVES IN ATTEMPTS TO AVOID ARTHROPOD ATTACKS OR IN AN ATTEMPT TO ALLEVIATE IRRITATION CAUSED BY THE ARTHROPODS. (entomophobia, arachnophobia)

VETERINARY SIGNIFICANCE OF ARTHROPODS contd

INDIRECT DAMAGE OF HOSTS DUE TO ARTHROPODS THIS HAPPENS WHEN ARTHROPODS TRANSMIT DISEASE PATHOGENS FROM ONE ANIMAL TO ANOTHER. WHEN ARTHROPODS TRANSMIT DISEASE AGENTS FROM ONE ANIMAL TO ANOTHER, THEY ARE KNOWN AS VECTORS. VECTORS CAN TRANSMIT A WIDE RANGE OF DISEASE PATHOGENS; VIRUSES, BACTERIA, RICKETTSIA, SPIROCHAETES, PROTOZOA AND HELMINTHS. DISEASE TRANSMISSION MAY BE BETWEEN LIVESTOCK OF THE SAME SPECIES, OR FROM OTHER ANIMAL SPECIES, WHICH IN MOST CASES ARE REFERRED TO AS RESERVOIRS.
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 THERE ARE TWO (2) PRINCIPAL WAYS BY WHICH ARTHROPODS TRANSMIT DISEASE PATHOGENS BETWEEN ANIMALS:
BIOLOGICAL TRANSMISSION MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION

VETERINARY SIGNIFICANCE OF ARTHROPODS contd

1) BIOLOGICAL TRANSMISSION VECTOR ACQUIRES PATHOGEN FROM INFECTED ANIMAL, USUALLY DURING FEEDING. PATHOGEN UNDERGOES SOME DEVELOPMENT IN THE VECTOR AND BECOMES INFECTIVE. VECTOR TRANSMITS PATHOGEN WHEN IT FEEDS NEXT. CONDITIONS: BIOLOGICAL TRANSMISSION OF A DISEASE IS A FINELY TUNED AFFAIR, BECAUSE SPECIFIC ARTHROPOD SPECIES ARE USUALLY REQUIRED FOR THE SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF A SPECIFIC PATHOGEN.
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 GEOGRAPHIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IMPORTANT CERTAIN THRESHOLD POPULATION OF VECTORS MUST OFTEN EXIST IF TRANSMISSION IS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

VETERINARY SIGNIFICANCE OF ARTHROPODS contd

2) MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION THIS OCCURS WHEN VECTOR CONTAMINATES ITS MOUTH PARTS OR OTHER BODY STRUCTURES WHILE FEEDING ON AN INFECTED HOST. CONTAMINATED VECTOR MAY SUBSEQUENTLY VISIT ANOTHER UNINFECTED HOST AND INTRODUCE OR TRANSMIT THE PATHOGENIC ORGANISM.
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 CONDITIONS: MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION USUALLY HAS TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF THE INITIAL ATTACK ON A DISEASED ANIMAL BECAUSE THE LONGEVITY OF MOST PATHOGENS WHEN EXPOSED ON ARTHROPODS IS GENERALLY SHORT (< 24 HOURS) IN ADDITION TO THOSE UNDER BIOLOGICAL TRANSMISSION.

CONTROL OF ARTHROPODBORNE DISEASES

ARTHROPOD-BORNE DISEASES ARE ONE OF THE MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS TO LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD. IN AFRICA, TRYPANASOMOSIS, TRANSMITTED BY TSETSE-FLIES, PREVENTS EXTENSIVE CATTLE PRODUCTION. IN HUMAN BEINGS, MALARIA , TRANSMITTED BY MOSQUITOES, IS STILL A NUMBER ONE KILLER DISEASE IN AFRICA.
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THERE ARE BASICALLY FOUR (4) MAIN WAYS IN WHICH ARTHROPOD -BORNE DISEASES MAY BE CONTROLLED: 1) BREAKING THE VECTOR-HOST CONTACT (E.G. REMOVING ANIMALS FROM THE INFESTED AREAS). 2) ERADICATING / CONTROLLING THE VECTOR (CHEMICALLY BIOLOGICALLY, etc). 3) CHEMOTHERAPY OF THE HOST POPULATION 4) IMMUNIZATION OF HOST POPULATION

CONTROL OF ARTHROPODBORNE DISEASES

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE VECTOR CONTROL MEASURES Effective control measures directed at vectors will require a good understanding of the vector species in question and this involves the following: correct identification sufficient biological and ecological information sufficient information on distribution magnitude of the damage done. A good understanding of the epidemiology of arthropod-borne diseases is also dependent on the same information.

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