canis - Articles
Skin: external parasite bite reaction
Introduction
- An allergic response due to sensitization to insect or arachnid salivary allergens. Most common hypersensitive skin disease Skin: parasitic disease - overview.
- Signs: pruritus, papules, nodules, urticaria Urticaria and angioedema.
- Cause: fleas (most common) Skin: flea bite hypersensitivity ; mites, egCheyletiella Skin: cheyletiellosis ;Trombicula Neotrombicula autumnalis; lice Skin: pediculosis ; ticks Ixodes ricinus Ixodes canisuga Ixodes hexagonus , mosquito; bees and wasps Insect stings and envenomation.
- Treatment: anti-inflammatory medication. Avoid exposure if possible.
- Prognosis: varies with arthropod involved.
- See Parasitic Skin Disease - overview Skin: parasitic disease - overview.
Presenting signs
- Reactions vary depending on the insect or arachnid involved and the immunological status of the host, ie whether there has been prior sensitization.
- Lesions usually pruritic.
- With arachnid hypersensitivity, pain may be severe.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Fleas Ctenocephalides felis Ctenocephalides canis.
- Mites (especiallyCheyletiella Cheyletiella yasguri Skin: cheyletiellosis ,Trombicula autumnalis Neotrombicula autumnalis Skin: neotrombicula autumnalis infestation ,Sarcoptes scabiei Sarcoptes scabiei Skin: sarcoptic mange ).
- Lice Skin: pediculosis.
- Ticks Ixodes canisuga Ixodes hexagonus Ixodes ricinus.
- Bees, wasps, hornets Insect stings and envenomation.
- Mosquitoes.
- Other biting flies, egStomoxys calcitrans.
- ?Ants.
Pathophysiology
- Toxins and excretory products produced by ectoparasites act as direct irritants and/or via their potential as allergens.
Timecourse
- Generally sudden onset (in contrast to atopy Skin: atopy ).
Epidemiology
- Variable depending on insect or arachnid involved.
- Some live permanently/semi-permanently on host, egCheyletiella, lice. Others are 'visitors', eg mosquitoes, bees.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Bevier D E (1999) Insect and arachnid hypersensitivity. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 29 (6), 1385-1405 PubMed.
- Purves J (1998) Hymenopteran encounters. Vet Rec 143 (3), 88 PubMed.
- Bond H (1994) Deaths from bee stings. Vet Rec 134 (10), 256 PubMed.
- McKeon S E & Opdebeeck J P (1994) IgG and IgE antibodies against antigens of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis, in sera of allergic and non-allergic dogs. Int J Parasitol 24 (2), 259-263 PubMed.
- Greene W K, Carnegie R L, Shaw S E, Thompson R C & Penhale W J (1993) Characterization of allergens of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis - detection and frequency of IgE antibodies in canine sera. Parasite Immunol 15 (2), 69-74 PubMed.
- Scott D W (1987) Sterile eosinophilic pustulosis in dog and man - comparative aspects. J Am Acad Dermatol 16 (5 Pt 1), 1022-1026 PubMed.
- Halliwell R E & Longino S J (1985) IgE and IgG antibodies to flea antigen in differing dog populations. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 8 (3), 215-223 PubMed.