Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Parasitology
Fleas
Fleas are one of the more common parasites found on new patents at Greenwood. This sectioin covers flea ID, life cycle, transmittable zoonoses, and treatment.
Lice
Lice are a wingless parasite with over 3,000 species. This section covers lice life cycle, differentiating between chewing lice and sucking lice, symptoms, and treatment.
Mites
Mites affect both mammals and avians and are a member of Arachnidae. This section covers their life history, symptoms, and treatment.
Ticks
Another arachnid, ticks have 8 legs and 2 body parts. They can pass on many diseases. This section covers tick life history, diseases, and treatment.
Flat Flies
Flat flies are obligate sanguinivores (blood "eaters") common on wildlife. This section covers their unique life history and treatment.
Carnid Fly
These common flies are also sanguinivores. This section covers their life history and treatment.
Quiz
This quiz is 7 questions long and covers information from the fleas, lice, mites, ticks, flat flies, and carnid flies lessons.
Lice Life History and Zoonoses
Life History
Lice can use birds or mammals as a host. They lay their eggs (nits) on the host’s hair or feather shafts at a specific distance from the host’s body to ensure the perfect incubation temperature. Pouch lice can cling to the mouths of waterfowl, mainly pelicans, and can withstand many harsh circumstances.
Zoonoses
Zoonosis risk: low.
Lice may pass on bloodborne illnesses by biting an infected host then biting a new, uninfected host.
P.O. Box 18987
Boulder, Colorado, 80308
Phone: (303) 823-8455
If you have a wildlife EMERGENCY, or a question about a wild animal, please call (303) 823-8455
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