The parasite that causes generalized pruritus is of the:

The parasite that causes generalized pruritus is of the:

• A. Ancylostoma species
• B. Melophagus species
• C. Notoedres species
• D. Echinococcus species

Answer: (B)

Generalized pruritus from ectoparasites is typically caused by a parasite that spends most or all of its life on the host and irritates the skin. The sheep ked, Melophagus ovinus, is a wingless fly that lives on the sheep and feeds on blood. This feeding activity causes widespread itching across the body, leading to generalized pruritus, rubbing, and wool damage. The other organisms listed are either internal parasites or mites that usually produce different patterns of disease (for example, mites can cause mange in localized areas or more widespread dermatitis in some cases, but their primary association in many exams is not generalized pruritus across the body like Melophagus). So the diffuse itching described fits the effect of Melophagus on sheep.

Generalized pruritus from ectoparasites is typically caused by a parasite that spends most or all of its life on the host and irritates the skin. The sheep ked, Melophagus ovinus, is a wingless fly that lives on the sheep and feeds on blood. This feeding activity causes widespread itching across the body, leading to generalized pruritus, rubbing, and wool damage. The other organisms listed are either internal parasites or mites that usually produce different patterns of disease (for example, mites can cause mange in localized areas or more widespread dermatitis in some cases, but their primary association in many exams is not generalized pruritus across the body like Melophagus). So the diffuse itching described fits the effect of Melophagus on sheep.