Medical and Veterinary Entomology

Medical entomology is the study of insects, insect-borne diseases, and other associated problems that affect humans and public health. Veterinary entomology is the study of insects and insect-related problems that affect domestic animals, particularly livestock and companion animals (dogs, cats, horses, caged birds, etc.). In addition, veterinary entomology includes insect-associated problems affecting captive animals in zoological parks and in wildlife in general. Medical-veterinary entomology combines these two disciplines. Traditionally, the fields of medical and veterinary entomology have included health-related problems involving arachnids (particularly mites, ticks, spiders, and scorpions). This broad approach that encompasses insects and arachnids is followed in this text. Alternatively, the study of health-related problems involving arachnids is called medical-veterinary arachnology or, if just mites and ticks are considered, medical-veterinary acarology.