1. Parasites
Continued…

2. Heartworm Canines are natural hosts for heartworms
Adult female produce microscopic baby worms called microfilaria that circulate in the bloodstream

3. Heartworm
When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it sucks up the microfilaria with the blood
develop and mature into “infective stage” larvae over day
when the infected mosquito bites another animal, the infective larvae are deposited onto skin and enter the new host through the mosquito’s bite wound
once inside, it takes ~6 months for the larvae to mature into adult heartworms
can live for 5 to 7 years in dogs and up to 2 or 3 years in cats

4. Heartworm

5. Hookworm
eggs can be found in warm, moist soil where they will eventually hatch into first stage larvae
Non-infectious, feed on soils; molt into L2
L2 feeds for ~7 days and molt into L3
filariform stage; infective form; extremely motile and will seek higher ground (find host)

6. Hookworms
L3 then travel through the subcutaneous blood and lymphatic vessels of host
enter the lungs, travel up trachea, host coughs and swallows
L3 larvae molt into adult in small intestine
Females will release eggs (9,000–10,000 eggs/day or 25,000–30,000 eggs/day) which are passed in the feces
eggs will hatch in the environment

7. Hookworm

8. Roundworms
Roundworms (ascarids) are large, heavy-bodied worms that grow up to six inches long
Can be passed from mother to newborn or ingested (feces, infected animal)

9. Roundworm
ascarid eggs (found in small intestine) are passed in the feces of an infected host
adults develop and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal upsets