Keratoconjunctivitis and Periorbital Papillomatosis Associated with Heavy Periorbital Infestation by the Tail Louse Haematopinus quadripertusus in Heifers

Abstract

Heifers (Israeli–Holstein), aged 12–18 months, permanently maintained in open barns on an inadequate nutritional regime were found to be moderately to heavily infested by Haematopinus quadripertusus, the tail louse. The severely infested heifers showed keratoconjunctivitis and periorbital papillomatosis. Two treatments with an α-cypermethrin pour-on product 14 days apart controlled the lice, and were followed by alleviation of the inflammation and regression of the papillomas.