Clinical signs will vary depending on the presence of underlying disease and the severity of the infestation . They include [ 9 ] :
• Anorexia
• Diarrhoea
• Lethargy and depression
• Dehydration
• Alopecia
• Weight loss
• Skin wound and necrosis
• Soiling around the perianal area
• Presence of eggs and larvae
• Fetid smell indicating necrosis .
Diagnosis will be made on physical examination and the discovery of eggs and larvae in the tissue . It is important to examine the animal on successive days to identify and remove any emerging larvae .
Treatment
The affected area should be clipped and the maggots removed manually , which may require a general anaesthetic to minimise stress . Any necrotic tissue should be debrided , as secondary bacterial infections can occur [ 2 ] . The fur should be washed , dried and combed with a flea comb to remove any eggs or firststage larvae [ 9 ] . The use of a hair drier can be particularly helpful , as the heat seems to draw the maggots to the surface , although care should be taken not to overheat the rabbit ' s delicate skin [ 9 ] .
Supportive treatment , such as intravenous fluid therapy and analgesia , should be given for any clinical signs and the underlying condition should be addressed . Fipronil , permethrin , ivermectin and selamectin are considered effective in the treatment of myiasis in rabbits [ 9 ] .
Prevention
Veterinary nurses can play an important role in the prevention of myiasis by educating the owner on good husbandry and physical examination . It is vital that the owner keeps the rabbit clean and dry , and checks for any wounds or soiling . The owner should inspect their rabbit daily throughout the year , but it is particularly important to do so in late spring and early summer .
Conclusions
Ectoparasites live on or burrow into the skin and there are a number that are of clinical significance in domestic pets . Identification of the ectoparasite is essential to ensure the appropriate treatment is applied .
Veterinary nurses can significantly support the management and prevention of conditions caused by ectoparasites by educating owners on the correct husbandry conditions for their pets .
REFERENCES
1 PAHO . Ectoparasitosis . Available from : https :// www . paho . org / en / topics / ectoparasitosis [ Accessed 20 February 2024 ].
2 Saari S , Näreaho A , Nikander S . Insecta . In : Canine Parasites and Parasitic Diseases . London : Academic Press ; 2019 . p . 159 – 185 . Available from : https :// doi . org / 10.1016 / B978-0-12-814112-0.00008-8 .
3 Taylor MA , Coop RL , Wall RL . Parasite taxonomy and morphology . In : Veterinary Parasitology . 3rd ed . Oxford : Blackwell Publishing ; 2007 . p . 1 – 50 .
4 Fisher M , McGarry J . Principles of parasitology . In : Cooper B , Mullineaux E , Turner L . ( eds .) BSAVA Textbook of Veterinary Nursing . 6th ed . Gloucester : BSAVA ; 2020 . p . 149 – 171 .
5 Companion Animal Parasite Council . Lice . 2023 . Available from : https :// capcvet . org / guidelines / lice / [ Accessed 20 February 2024 ].
6 Urquhart GM , Armour J , Duncan JL , Dunn AM , Jennings FW . Veterinary entomology . In : Veterinary Parasitology . 2nd ed . Oxford : Blackwell Scientific ; 1996 . p . 137 – 199 .
7 Ketzis JK . Lice in Dogs and Cats . MSD Manual . 2023 . Available from : https :// www . msdvetmanual . com / integumentary-system / lice / licein-dogs-and-cats [ Accessed 20 February 2024 ].
8 Service M . Flies and myiasis . In : Medical Entomology for Students . 4th ed . Cambridge : Cambridge University Press ; 2008 . p . 152 – 167 .
9 Cousquer G . Veterinary care of rabbits with myiasis . In Practice . 2006 ; 28 ( 6 ): 342 – 349 . Available from : https :// doi . org / 10.1136 / inpract . 28.6.342 .
10 Šlapeta J . Facultative Myiasis-producing Flies of Animals . MSD Manual . 2022 . Available from : https :// www . msdvetmanual . com / integumentary-system / flies / facultative-myiasis-producing-fliesof-animals [ Accessed 20 February 2024 ].
11 Gerhardt RR , Hribar LJ . Flies ( Diptera ) In : Mullen GR , Durden LA . ( eds .) Medical and Veterinary Entomology . 3rd ed . Oxford : Elsevier ; 2019 . p . 171 – 190 .
Products such as Rearguard ( Novartis ), which contains cyromazine , can prevent myiasis for up 10 weeks after application . Cyromazine is an insecticidal insect growth regulator that affects the nervous system of immature larval stages [ 9 ] .
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