Exotic Mammal Parasites

Protozoa
 Rabbit Coccidiosis
Rabbits are commonly infected with coccidia
Hepatic= Eimeria stiedae
Intestinal= Many species: most pathogenic are E.
intestinalis and E. flavescens
In all cases, the life cycles are direct. Unsporulated
oocysts are released in the bile (E. stiedae) or
intestinal contents and exit in the feces.
Sporulation to the infective stage occurs in less than 3
days under optimal conditions.
 Rabbit Coccidiosis

Mild= asymptomatic. Severe= hepatic (E.

stiedae) or intestinal disease. In all, these may
include severe diarrhea or constipation,
dehydration, anorexia, weight loss, a “pot-belly”,
intussusception, and
death.
 Rabbit Coccidiosis

E. stiedae- hepatomegaly with dilated bile ducts

appearing as yellowish granulomatous lesions
throughout the liver. The gallbladder may also be
enlarged and contain exudate.

Intestinal coccidiosis- cecum and colon contain

dark, watery, foul-smelling fluid, with epithelial necrosis,
mucosal ulceration, congestion, edema, hemorrhages,
villous atrophy, and leukocytic exudate.
 Rabbit Coccidiosis

E. stiedae- examine bile for oocysts

All species- Histologic or coprologic. Oocysts

are difficult to distinguish among Eimeria
species.
 Rabbit Coccidiosis

Control is centered around adequate cage

sanitation to reduce the likelihood of
overwhelming infection.
Several antiprotozoal agents are effective at
interrupting the life cycles and restoring normal
growth, and can be used during outbreaks.
 Amoebiasis

The most pathogenic species of intestinal

amoebae of primates is Entamoeba
histolytica. Old World >New World.
Transmission is via ingestion of cysts.
Trophozoites inhabit the cecum and colon,
and ingest RBCs. Cysts form in the large
intestine and contain up to 4 nuclei when
mature.
 Amoebiasis

Usually asymptomatic. However, signs are

more severe in young and/or New World
monkeys, and in all monkeys may include
lethargy, weakness, dehydration, weight loss,
anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea, which may be
hemorrhagic or catarrhal.
 Amoebiasis

Lesions are often flask-shaped, and represent

ulcerative colitis. Some trophozoites may
disseminate and establish abscesses in the
liver, lungs, or CNS. These are often fatal.
 Amoebiasis

Trophozoites in wet smears of colonic

material. In fixed preparations, amoebae stain
bright red with PAS; while trichrome, Giemsa, or
iron hematoxylin stains may be used to
demonstrate nuclear morphology. Therefore,
diagnosis is by examination of colonic
contents or feces (stained or wet mount) for
trophozoites or cysts; or histologically for
lesions.
Amoebiasis
Amoebiasis
 Amoebiasis

Control is based on strict sanitation, including

elimination of mechanical vectors such as flies
and cockroaches
Cysts are very difficult to kill in the
environment
 Amoebiasis

Metronidazole (50 mg/kg PO bid for 10 days)

plus diiodohydroxyquin (30 mg/kg PO sid for
10 days)

NOTE: E. histolytica causes amoebic

dysentery in humans. This can kill you if it
goes to a vital organ and abscesses
Helminths
 Trichostrongylosis
Exotic hoofstock are commonly parasitized by
trichostrongyles like those found in domestic
livestock. Transmission is facilitated by overstocking.

Genera most commonly involved include

Haemonchus, Ostertagia, +/- Nematodirus. While
mild infections are asymptomatic, heavy infections can
result in weight loss, diarrhea, poor body condition,
increased susceptibility to other pathogens, and
occasionally, death.
 Trichostrongylosis
Control challenges:
– 1) getting the curator to correct the high stocking density,
either by removing animals or supplementing feed
– 2) getting anthelmintic into the hoofstock
– 3) avoiding anthelmintic resistance
– Proper assessment comes by doing monthly fecal egg
counts. A few years of this will reveal the natural cycle of
trichostrongyle transmission.
– Strategic treatment plans can then be designed for the
particular situation
 Trichostrongylosis

Anthelmintic is best delivered in mineral

blocks, supplemental feed additives, or pour-
ons. Unfortunately, the first two tend to promote
development of resistance, since it is impossible
to accurately dose animals. Handling these
animals is extremely difficult and is dangerous
for both handler and animal.
 Lungworm

Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) are commonly

infected with internal parasites, including
Didelphostrongylus hayesi, the opossum
lungworm
Infection requires ingestion of an infective L3 in
a mollusk intermediate host (terrestrial snail).
So is not transmitted in captivity when snails are
excluded.
 “Speedbump” the
wild and crazy
‘possum

Speedbump chillin
in his crib
 Lungworm

Heavy infections result in signs of severe respiratory

distress, including tachypnea, exercise intolerance,
harsh lung sounds, weight loss, and death

Granulomatous
bronchopneumonia, with worms
identifiable on cut section and
in histologic section
Male worm
 Lungworm

Baermann fecal examination for L1

First stage larva

A bunch of L1’s
 Lungworm

Fenbendazole (50 mg/kg PO sid for 14 days)

eliminated infections in 73% of animals treated.
An improvement in efficacy might be realized if
treatment were extended to 21 or 28 days.
Alternatively, a higher dose (100 mg/kg) may
also be more effective though more dangerous.
 Rabbit Metacestodiasis

An incidental finding during a rabbit necropsy,

is the presence of metacestode (larval) stages
of tapeworms.
Taenia pisiformis (cysticercus)
T. serialis (coenurus)
Both are transmitted by ingestion of tapeworm
eggs shed by infected dogs
 Rabbit Metacestodiasis

The metascestodes develop to the size of a pea

in the peritoneal cavity attached to the viscera
(T. pisiformis) or to a diameter of several inches
in the subcutaneous tissues and intramuscular
connective tissues (T. serialis).

Heavy infections can compromise the health of

the rabbit, but this is uncommon
 Rabbit Metacestodiasis

Diagnose by finding metacestode stages at

necropsy.

Coenurus
 Rabbit Metacestodiasis

There is no treatment as antemortem diagnosis

is not done. It is possible that high doses of
praziquantel or albendazole would be curative

Prevent rabbits from grazing on grass

frequented by dogs, and don’t feed rabbit
carcasses to dogs
Arthropods
 Sarcoptic Mange

Sarcoptes scabiei: burrowing mite found on >

100 species of mammals, commonly wild canids
and exotic hoofstock (threat to endangered
species)
Each host species has its own strain
Transmission may be direct or indirect
Highly contagious
 Sarcoptic Mange

Mites live in tunnels bored in the stratum

corneum

Eggs hatch and develop through larval and

nymphal stages to adults in about 2 weeks
 Sarcoptic Mange

Intense pruritus, listlessness, localized (head,

shoulders, backline) or generalized
erythematous eruptions, papule formation,
seborrhoea, and alopecia. Morbidity and
mortality may be high.
 Sarcoptic Mange

In chronic cases, skin becomes hyperkeratotic

and lichenified. Pathologic changes are due to
both immediate (type I) and delayed (type IV)
hypersensitivity reactions.
 Sarcoptic Mange

Deep skin scrapings (unreliable). To improve

recovery, gently heat scraped material so mites
become active. OR: scrapings can be put in
KOH to digest extraneous material.
 Sarcoptic Mange

Eradication is difficult because of environmental

contamination and infestation of many reservoir
species

Treatment is with acaricides or avermectins

Treat all animals simultaneously

NOTE: ZOONOTIC
 Other Ectoparasites
Exotic livestock and
other mammals are
susceptible to infestation
with many of the
common flies, ticks, and
lice of domestic
mammals

Treatments are as for

domestics