Haematopinus spp. (1)

Question 1

What are the hosts?

Answer 1

Cattle

Pigs

Horses

Question 2

How do you identify?

Answer 2

Largest louse genus of domestic mammals

Gregarious

Form dense isolated clusters

Up to 6 mm

Tarsal claws are of equal size

Largest Anopluran

Question 3

What are the sites of infection?

Answer 3

Head

Neck

Back

Skin folds of neck and jowl

Flanks

Inside of legs

Question 4

Describe the Pathogenesis

Answer 4

Pruritis

Alopecia

Production losses

Anemia

Leads to self-inflicted trauma

Heavy infestation -> Restlessness -> Production loss

H. suis
- Common
- Anemia rare
- Only species of lice to infect domestic pigs
- Difficult to locate an animal
- Frequently hidden in folds of fat/skin
- Skin damage from scratching - reduction of hide value
- Vector for African Swine Fever (Mycoplasma (Eperythrozoon) suis)
and virus of swine pox

Question 5

How do you diagnose?

Answer 5

Identification of louse

Question 6

How do you treat?

Answer 6

Various Ectoparasiticides

MCLs

Question 7

What are the common names?

Answer 7

Sucking louse

H. eurysternus - Short nosed cattle louse

H. suis - sucking louse of swine