FLEAS AND LICE AFFECTING

LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY

FLEAS

Characters Male Female

Size Smaller Larger than male

Antenna Well developed, adhesive disc

for attachment with female

during copulation

No disc

Abdomen Dorsal surface more or less flat,

ventral surface greatly curved

Dorsal and ventral

surface convex

9th segment has a pair of

claspers (L shaped) and a penis

or aedeagus (screw like)

Seventh segment has

spermatheca (‘S’

shaped)

Differences between male and female flea

C. canis

C. felis

C.felisLong and slender headFrons elongateAnterior most genal spine is as long as the 2nd

C.canisShort and round headFrons slopeAnterior most genal spine is shorter than the 2nd

L/c: 4-5 wks; total life span: one year

Effect on host

• Flea bite dermatitis

• Body condition

• Blood loss

• Disease transmission

Treatment and control

A spot-on

Use of flea collars should be avoided in certain breeds of dogs

ECHIDNOPHAGA GALLINACEA

Frons angulateThorax (fore-shortened segments)

• Ceratophyllus gallinae common flea of chicken pronotal ctenidium more than 24

• Pulex irritans human, pigs and badges; ctenidia absent, smoothly rounded frons

• Tunga penetrans- chiggar/ jigger/ chigoe flea; Host: man,pig,dog & other mammals, Distribution: America, Africa & West Indies

• Other sp.Xenopsylla cheopis – rats, absence of ctenidia, mesopleuralrod present.Ceratophyllus fasciatus - rodentsC. columbae – domestic pigeonsC. garei – ducks & moorhen

LICEHighly host specific and region specific

• Eggs - NITS; operculated, without stalk, cemented to hairs or feathers

• Incomplete metamorphosis • Egg → Nymph → Adult • Young ones are called ‘nymphs’ , 3

nymphal stages• Whole lifecycle is passed on the host• Infection is by contact (through infected

birds, farm equipment & personnel)• Paratergal plates: Abdominal segments

bear at their sides a dark brown or black areas of thickened chitin

Order: LICE

Mallophaga - biting lice

Amblycera Ischnocera

Siphunculata

(Anoplura) sucking lice

SO:

Order : Mallophaga• Biting/ chewing lice

• Wingless, dorsoventrally flattened bodies

• Antenna short 3-5 segment

• Segmentation of thorax is indistinct, six pairs of abdominal spiracles

• Tarsi 2 segment bears 1/2 claws

• It feeds on fragment of feathers, hair and epidermal products

• Amblyceran–Birds• Menopon• Menacanthus• Trinoton

–Mammals• Heterodoxus

• Ischnocera–Birds• Lipeurus• Goniodes• Goniocotes• Columbicola

–Mammals •Damalinia• Trichodectes• Felicola

Suborder: Amblycera (blunt,horn)

• Antennae (4-5 seg) lie in grooves – not readily seen

• Max. palp visible

• Mandibles bite horizontally

• Head broad and rounded anteriorly

• Tarsi – 2 claws in species affecting birds and 1 claw in mammal lice (except Heterodoxusspiniger)

Menopon gallinae

• Shaft louse of poultry

– Pale yellow in colour

– Head: rounded forehead & rounded temples but broad posteriorly

– Each abdominal segment has single row of bristles

– Eggs are laid in clusters on feathers

– It moves about rapidly

Menopon Menacanthus

Menacanthus stramineus

• Body louse of poultry/ yellow body louse of poultry

– Occur on the skin (breast, thighs & anus)

– Extremely harmful to young chicks

– Abdomen longer than broad

– Each abdominal segment has 2 rows of bristles

Eggs:Characteristic filaments on the anterior half of the shell and on the operculum and are laid in clusters on the feathers near the skin

Amblyceran lice affecting mammals

• Heterodoxus spiniger– Biting louse of dogs

• Antennae- 4 segmented

• No sexual dimorphism

• Head conical

• Single row of spine on abdominal segment

• Tarsi end in two claws

• Commonly occur in India

• It transmits Dipylidium caninum, Dipetalonemareconditum to dogs

Heterodoxus

Suborder: Ischnocera

• This lice affects birds and mammals

• Lethargic

• Mandibles bite vertically

• Antennae (3-5 seg) are long, filiform (filament like)

• Broad head, fused meso and meta thorax

• Abdominal segment 1+2, 9+10 fused, 11th

segment may not be visible

Lipeurus (Cuclotogaster)L. caponis

Wing louse

Sluggish species

Body slender and elongate

L. heterographusHead louse of fowl

Occurs on skin, feathers of head and neckHost: fowls, partridges and other birdsDark brown tergal plates present laterallyEggs laid singly on feathersResponsible for heavy mortality in chicks

( A ) Menopon gallinae ; ( B ) Menacanthus cornutus ; ( C ) Menacanthus stramineus ;( D ) Goniocotes gallinae ; ( E ) Lipeurus caponis ;( F ) Cuclotogaster heterographus .

Goniodes gigas

• Large body louse of chicken

– Body : grey to nearly black with triangular dark marks on sides

Other species:

G. dissimilis- fowl,partridges & pheasants (not in India)

G. meleagridis – large turkey louse

G. pavonis - peacock

Goniodes Goniocotes

• Goniocotes gallinae– Fluff louse of poultry

– Host: fowls, pheasants & pigeons

– Body: broad, head: short & wide

• Columbicola columbae Common louse of pigeons– Slender pigeon louse

– Cosmopolitant

– Elongate with bright reddish brown head

Columbicola columbae

Damalinia (Bovicola) ovis

• Little red louse of sheep/ biting louse of sheep

– Rounded head

– Antenna 3segments, single row of spines

– tarsi- single claw

– Reproduction: parthenogenesis

Bovicola

• D. bovis– Red louse of cattle

• Found on neck, shoulders & root of tail

D. caprae on goats and D. equi on horses & ponies

Trichodectes canis – common louse of dogsPuppies may suffer severelyIH for dog tapewormOccurs in India

Felicola subrostratus – common louse of domestic cat

Order: Siphunculata (Anoplura) Sucking lice

• MP: sucking tissue fluids and blood• Head pointed anteriorly• Antennae visible at sides, 5 segmented• Thorax small 3 segments, fused• Abdomen 7 segment, paratergal plates• Each tarsus has only one claw• First pair of leg small with weaker claws• Third pair of legs usually largest• Found in mammals, host specific

Family: Haematopinidae (short nosed)

• Eyes are absent

• Head: forward prolongations

• Thorax broad

• Legs and claw are of equal size and shape

• Well developed tibial pad – for holding on the hairs

• Abdomen has prominent paratergal plates

• One row of spines in each abdominal segment

• Abdominal spiracles fairly large

H. quadripertusus

Tail switch louse of cattle

Occurs in tail switch where nits are laidCommon in TN

H.suisPig louse, large louse of pigs

Largest livestock liceFound in neck ear and legs

Transmits swine fever virus

H. tuberculatus, H.asini, H.bufali, H.eurysternus

Family: Linognathidae (long nosed)

• Eyes are present

• Head more or less slender

• Paratergal plate: not prominent

• Abdomen membranous and narrow, 2/more rows of spines

• 1st pair of legs are smallest, 3rd pair is longest

• Tibial pad absent

• Abdominal spiracles are small

L. vituli

•Long nosed cattle louse/ blue louse of cattle•Antenna has 5 segments•Elongate head and body•Two / more rows of bristles on each segment•Paratergal plates absent

L. pedalisFoot louse of sheep, Occurs on legs and feet

PediculusPigmented eyes, PT plates present, All legs of same sizePediculus humanus humanus - body louse of manPediculus humanus capitis – head louse

Phthirus pubisHuman pubic louse / crab louse

Location: pubic hairs, occasionally eyebrows & axillae

Wide thorax and small abdomenFirst pair of legs slender with slender claw

Pathogenesis • Lousiness (Pediculosis)

– Severe infection of L. pedalis may cause lameness

Numerous in winter

Main effect: irritation, host become restless, do not feed/ sleep, injure themselves due to biting or scratching (wounds/bruises), damage of wool, hair or feathers

Excessive licking – ‘hair balls’ in stomach

Egg production in birds, milk production in cow, wool production in sheep

Treatment & control

• Spray

• Dips /baths

• Soaps and shampoo

• Ayurvedic products