Lice Flashcards
Are lice in the same order as fleas?
No, different order with 2 suborders
Are lice host specific?
Yes! Are only on one host!
- they are not zoonotic!
Lice morphology
- stout legs and claws
- wingless
- dorso-ventrally flattened
- adults have 6 legs
- 3 sections: head, body, thorax
Which lice are chewing/biting?
Mallophaga
Which lice are sucking?
Anoplura
Do adult lice survive off the host?
No, only last 1-2 days in the environment
- female lay several eggs per day
- remain on same host
- transmission via direct contact, phoresis
Anoplura
- head narrower than thorax
- blood feeders
- placental mammals
- linognathus, pediculus, haematopinus, phthirius, solenoptes
Mallophagan
- head broader than thorax
- feed by biting/scraping skin/feathers
- mammals and birds
- trichodectes, felicola, damalinia
Linognathus
Cattle, sheep, goats
- L. vituli: long-nosed cattle louse
- L. africanus: african blue louse (sheep, goats)
- L. ovillus, L pedialis: face and foot lice (sheep)
Linognathus setosus
Canids
- head, neck, beneath collars
- primarily long ear breeds
- may cause anemia
Hematopinus
Cattle
- H. eurysternus: short nosed cattle louse (largest!, affects mature cattle)
- H. quadripertusus: cattle tail louse –> abundant during summer
Haematopinus suis
May see eggs on lower body, neck, ears
- very common. only type of lice that swine can get!
Haematopinus asini
Horses, may get greasy skin, bald areas over most of body
- uncommon
Phthirus pubis
Humans, pubic area
- transmission via fomites, may potentially get on pets (rare)
Human lice
Pediculus humanus humanus
- cootie, preferes seams of clothing
Pediculus humanus capitus
- human head louse, dog infestations uncommon
Solenoptes capillatus
Little blue cattle louse
- eggs cause hairs to bed
- southern US, australia
Trichodectes canis
Harmful in puppies, old dogs
- congregate around body openings, wounds
- intense pruritius, sleeplessness, matted coat
Felicola subrostratus
Domestic cats
- underlying disease or aged
- dull, ruffled coat, scaling, crusts, alopecia
Damalina (Bovicola)
D. bovis: cattle biting louse
D. ovis, caprae: damage wool
D. equi: horse biting louse (long haired breeds)
Do birds get chewing or biting lice?
Chewing!
Menacanthus stramineus
- chicken body louse, affects vent, breast, thigh
- eat barbs and barbules
- inflammation, localized scabs, blood clots
Menopon spp
- shaft louse
Direct disease caused by lice
Pediculosis
- immunocompromised/young
- colder months
- more common in large animals
- anemia, dermatitis, alopecia, restlessness, pruritus, ruffled/matted/damaged coat
Dipylidium caninum
Flea tapeworm
- Trichodectes canis is a major vector (IH)
Swine pox
Hematopinus suis is a major vector
- small round red vesicles may rupture = secondary infection
