Density and distribution of cattle lice (Phthiraptera: Haematopinidae, Linognathidae, Trichodectidae) on six steers

Abstract

The density and distribution of four species of cattle louse, Bovicola bovis (L.), Haematopinus eurysternus (Nitzsch), Linognathus vituli (L.), and Solenopotes capillatus (Enderlein), were elucidated from the hides of six slaughtered steers. Adult and nymphal lice were first removed from one hide by hand and the location of each specimen mapped. The remaining lice were removed by a detergent wash, and KOH dissolution of hide and hair. Lice from the remaining five hides were removed using KOH dissolution of cattle hair and subsequent filtration of the effluent. Bovicola bovis was most abundant, followed by H. eurysternus, L. vituli and S. capillatus. Significant variation was observed in B. bovis, H. eurysternus and L. vituli population densities. Solenopotes capillatus population densities did not differ significantly. All species were contagiously distributed, i.e. ‘clumped’, suggesting species dependant predilection sites. Predilection sites were ranked according to louse density to facilitate the development of field sampling strategies. Additional biological data were gathered on sex and life stage ratios for each species.