Signs such as pruritus, hair loss, and skin lesions are usually indicative of an endoparasitic infestation.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only in severe infestations
• D. Only in dermal parasites

Answer: (B)

Endoparasites inside the animal typically produce signs related to the gastrointestinal tract or systemic illness—diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, poor condition, dehydration, or anemia. Pruritus, hair loss, and skin lesions, on the other hand, are most often the result of skin problems or ectoparasite infestations (such as fleas or mites) or secondary skin infections. So these external signs are not the usual indicators of an internal parasite problem. While there can be rare cases where internal parasites indirectly affect the skin, they don’t reliably present with pruritus, alopecia, and skin lesions.