Ectoparasitic invasion of cats

Ectoparasitic infestation of cats is widespread, with ticks and fleas being particularly prevalent. The symptom complex of parasitic infestation is characterized by itching, localized dermatitis, and allergic reactions. Ticks of the Psoroptidae family cause otodectosis, which is caused by Otodectes...

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Main Authors: N. V. Kaliuzhnyi, A. V. Zhivilo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies Lviv 2024-05-01
Series:Науковий вісник Львівського національного університету ветеринарної медицини та біотехнологій імені С.З. Ґжицького: Серія Ветеринарні науки
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Online Access:https://nvlvet.com.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/5170
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author N. V. Kaliuzhnyi
A. V. Zhivilo
author_facet N. V. Kaliuzhnyi
A. V. Zhivilo
author_sort N. V. Kaliuzhnyi
collection DOAJ
description Ectoparasitic infestation of cats is widespread, with ticks and fleas being particularly prevalent. The symptom complex of parasitic infestation is characterized by itching, localized dermatitis, and allergic reactions. Ticks of the Psoroptidae family cause otodectosis, which is caused by Otodectes spp., a superficial mite that lives in the external ear and sometimes on the scalp of cats. The study aimed to perform a comprehensive survey of ectoparasitic infestation in cats with clinical signs of otitis to investigate the etiology and substantiate the treatment strategy. The study was conducted in the conditions of the “AIBOLYT” veterinary clinic in Poltava, Ukraine. It was established that 14 cases of otodectosis were registered in 2023, and 4 in 2024, most of the cases were registered in the autumn-winter period. The diagnosis was carried out considering epizootic data, clinical signs of the disease, and laboratory tests. The symptom complex of otodectosis in all cases was accompanied by otitis, characterized by general signs of altered behavior: anxiety, itching in the ear area (the skin shows signs of scratching, the animal shakes its head, local hyperemia, possible swelling of the auricle). All animals were subjected to examination of the wool coat and external ear, followed by microscopy of ear deposits. It was established that fleas were registered in cats with an average (up to 50 specimens) and a high degree of infestation (more than 50 specimens) of Otodectes spp. Otodectosis was complicated by ctenocephalous invasion, so the complex clinical signs included dermatitis. In the case of ctenocephalous infestation, itching with significant combing of the areas of parasitism was more frequently recorded. In the conditions of the veterinary clinic, the high therapeutic efficacy of the complex treatment scheme for otodectous and ctenocephalous invasion was proven. In ctenocephalosis, drugs with the active substance selamectin (Sela Fort, Stronghold) were used, the action is aimed at sexually mature individuals, eggs and larvae of Ctenocephalides spp., depending on the infestation degree, they were used for therapeutic purposes for 2–3 weeks. The active substance imidocloprid in combination with moxidectin has a complex effect on the ectoparasite, destroying the nervous and digestive systems, which ensures its death. Otodectic infestation was treated with otoflox drops, the active ingredient is ivermectin, it affects the nervous system of ticks and causes paralysis and death, used for 14 days. Symptomatic therapy drugs were used depending on the symptom complex of secondary signs. A comprehensive approach to the therapy of ectoparasitic invasion ensures that the host is freed from ectoparasitic invasion – the causative agents of ctenocephalosis and otodectosis, and, accordingly, the secondary symptoms: combing, dermatitis and swelling of the dermis in the affected areas are reduced. In the future, the owners were recommended to carry out planned preventive treatments.
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series Науковий вісник Львівського національного університету ветеринарної медицини та біотехнологій імені С.З. Ґжицького: Серія Ветеринарні науки
spelling doaj-art-93e2854cfe714e62ab6e8b028c6e0df52025-08-20T02:21:14ZengStepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies LvivНауковий вісник Львівського національного університету ветеринарної медицини та біотехнологій імені С.З. Ґжицького: Серія Ветеринарні науки2518-75542518-13272024-05-012611415415910.32718/nvlvet114225170Ectoparasitic invasion of catsN. V. Kaliuzhnyi0A. V. Zhivilo1Poltava State Agrarian University, Poltava, UkrainePoltava State Agrarian University, Poltava, UkraineEctoparasitic infestation of cats is widespread, with ticks and fleas being particularly prevalent. The symptom complex of parasitic infestation is characterized by itching, localized dermatitis, and allergic reactions. Ticks of the Psoroptidae family cause otodectosis, which is caused by Otodectes spp., a superficial mite that lives in the external ear and sometimes on the scalp of cats. The study aimed to perform a comprehensive survey of ectoparasitic infestation in cats with clinical signs of otitis to investigate the etiology and substantiate the treatment strategy. The study was conducted in the conditions of the “AIBOLYT” veterinary clinic in Poltava, Ukraine. It was established that 14 cases of otodectosis were registered in 2023, and 4 in 2024, most of the cases were registered in the autumn-winter period. The diagnosis was carried out considering epizootic data, clinical signs of the disease, and laboratory tests. The symptom complex of otodectosis in all cases was accompanied by otitis, characterized by general signs of altered behavior: anxiety, itching in the ear area (the skin shows signs of scratching, the animal shakes its head, local hyperemia, possible swelling of the auricle). All animals were subjected to examination of the wool coat and external ear, followed by microscopy of ear deposits. It was established that fleas were registered in cats with an average (up to 50 specimens) and a high degree of infestation (more than 50 specimens) of Otodectes spp. Otodectosis was complicated by ctenocephalous invasion, so the complex clinical signs included dermatitis. In the case of ctenocephalous infestation, itching with significant combing of the areas of parasitism was more frequently recorded. In the conditions of the veterinary clinic, the high therapeutic efficacy of the complex treatment scheme for otodectous and ctenocephalous invasion was proven. In ctenocephalosis, drugs with the active substance selamectin (Sela Fort, Stronghold) were used, the action is aimed at sexually mature individuals, eggs and larvae of Ctenocephalides spp., depending on the infestation degree, they were used for therapeutic purposes for 2–3 weeks. The active substance imidocloprid in combination with moxidectin has a complex effect on the ectoparasite, destroying the nervous and digestive systems, which ensures its death. Otodectic infestation was treated with otoflox drops, the active ingredient is ivermectin, it affects the nervous system of ticks and causes paralysis and death, used for 14 days. Symptomatic therapy drugs were used depending on the symptom complex of secondary signs. A comprehensive approach to the therapy of ectoparasitic invasion ensures that the host is freed from ectoparasitic invasion – the causative agents of ctenocephalosis and otodectosis, and, accordingly, the secondary symptoms: combing, dermatitis and swelling of the dermis in the affected areas are reduced. In the future, the owners were recommended to carry out planned preventive treatments.https://nvlvet.com.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/5170otitis, otodectosis, ctenocephalosis, ticks otodectes spp., fleas ctenocephalides spp.
spellingShingle N. V. Kaliuzhnyi
A. V. Zhivilo
Ectoparasitic invasion of cats
Науковий вісник Львівського національного університету ветеринарної медицини та біотехнологій імені С.З. Ґжицького: Серія Ветеринарні науки
otitis, otodectosis, ctenocephalosis, ticks otodectes spp., fleas ctenocephalides spp.
title Ectoparasitic invasion of cats
title_full Ectoparasitic invasion of cats
title_fullStr Ectoparasitic invasion of cats
title_full_unstemmed Ectoparasitic invasion of cats
title_short Ectoparasitic invasion of cats
title_sort ectoparasitic invasion of cats
topic otitis, otodectosis, ctenocephalosis, ticks otodectes spp., fleas ctenocephalides spp.
url https://nvlvet.com.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/5170
work_keys_str_mv AT nvkaliuzhnyi ectoparasiticinvasionofcats
AT avzhivilo ectoparasiticinvasionofcats