Mallophaga: Biting louse (Menoponidae, Boopidae, Gyropidae, Philopterida, Trichodectidae)

Genenral characteristics of Mallophaga

Ectoparasite of birds and marsupials

Large, rounded heads on which the eyes are reduced or absent

Medium to large size (2-3mm)

4-segmented antennae protected in antennal grooves, last segment is visible

General life cycle of Mallophaga

Eggs are glued to the base of feathers or hairs in dense clusters

Eggs hatch 4-7 days into nymphs

3 molts every 3 days

Adult

Species under Family Menoponidae

Mecanthus stramineus

Menopon gallinae

Chicken body louse

Yellow body louse

Mecanthus stramineus

General characteristics of M. stramineus

Relatively large (3.5mm)

Distinct palps, 4- segmented antennae

Abdomen has dense covering of medium-length seate

Lice eat barbs and barbules

M. stramineus carry

Equine encephalitis

Pathogenic effects of M. stramineus

Common and destructive louse in poultry

Infestation site at breast, thigh, and around the vent

Inflamed and scab-covered skin

Decreased weight and death in young birds

Shaft louse

Menopon gallinae

General characteristics of M. gallinae

Small (2mm) pale yellow

Small palps, a pair of 4-segmented antennae folded into grooves of head

Abdomen has sparse covering of medium length setae

M. gallinae transmits

Ornithosis

Species under Boopidae

Heterodoxus spiniger

Most common biting louse of dogs in Philippines

Large yellowish

Adults about 5 mm long

Dense covering of thick, medium, and long setae

Tarsi end in two claws

Heterodoxus spiniger

Spcies under Family Gyropidae

Gyporus ovalis

Gliricola porcelli

Small ectoparasite of guinea pigs (1-2mm)

Maxillary palps have 2 and 4 segments

Heavy infestation result in puritus and alopecia

Gyporus ovalis

Gliricola porcelli

Brown louse

Gonoides turkey louse

Slender turkey louse

Oxylipeurus polytrapezius

Neck louse

Oxylipeurus dentatus

Slender wing louse

LIpeurus caponis

Chicken head louse

Absent in the Philippines

Cuclotogaster heterographus

Causes “wet feather” in ducks

Holomenopon leucoxanthum

Louse of geese

Anaticola anseris

Louse of duck

Anaticola crassicornis

Pigeon louse

Columbicola columbae

Fluff louse

Goniocotes gallinae

Large turkey louse

Chelopistes meleagridis

Large body louse

Gonoides gigas

Species under Family Trichodectidae

Trichodectes canis

Damalinia bovis

Damalinia equi

Damalinia ovis

Damalinia limbata

Damalinia caprae

Felicola subrostrata

Found on cats

Common in the Philippines especially stray cats

Felicoloa subrostrata

Reported in the Philippines but not common

Trichodectes canis

Found on sheep

Damalinia ovis

Found on goats

Damalinia limbata

Damalinia caparae

Found on horses

Damalinia equi

Found on cattle

Absent in Philippines

Present in US

Facultatively parthenogenic

Damalinia bovis

Intermediate host of Dipylidium caninum

Trichodectes canis

Heterodoxus spiniger

Life cycle of Ischnocera (Pholopterida, Trichodectidae)

Eggs attached at base of feather singly or cluster

Pair of lice may produce 120,000 adults in few months

Entire life cycle: 2-3 weeks

Life span: several months on host, 5-6 days off host

Louse control: Spray/dip livestock with insecticide (%)

0\.06% coumaphos

0\.5% malathion

0\.5% chlordane

0\.15% neguron

0\.5% sevin

Louse control: Dusting with (%)

5% malathion dust

5% sevin powder

Louse control: Apply ointment (%)

5% retenone in 10 parts petrolum

Louse control: Spray/dust insecticides on large flocks

Melathion, sevin, neguron, coumaphos

Louse control (birds)

Dip birds on insecticides (small number of birds)

Repeat application after 2 weeks to prevent nymphs reaching maturity 2x a year