Elsevier

Veterinary Parasitology

Volume 174, Issues 3–4, 15 December 2010, Pages 355-358
Veterinary Parasitology

Short communication
Survey on blood-sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) of ruminants and pigs with molecular detection of Anaplasma and Rickettsia spp

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.09.003Get rights and content

Abstract

Lice may serve as biological or mechanical vectors for various infectious agents. To investigate louse infestation of ruminants and pigs, and pathogens potentially transmitted by them, anopluran lice (n = 1182) were collected in Hungary, and evaluated for the presence of anaplasma, rickettsia and haemotropic mycoplasma DNA. On cattle the following species were found: Linognathus vituli (57%), Haematopinus eurysternus (38%) and Solenopotes capillatus (5%). L. vituli had a lower mean individual count/host when compared to H. eurysternus. On calves only L. vituli was observed, with a higher louse burden than on full-grown cattle. H. eurysternus and S. capillatus were more likely to occur simultaneously with another species on the same host, than L. vituli. Goats infested with Linognathus stenopsis had the overall highest prevalence (68%), while pigs harbouring Haematopinus suis showed the lowest (<1%). Anaplasma DNA was detected in 50% of pools analysed. In L. vituli Anaplasma ovis (or a closely related novel Anaplasma marginale genotype) was identified. Anaplasma-positivity of H. suis suggests that pigs may extend the reservoir and/or host spectrum of relevant species. Anaplasma-infected L. stenopsis pools show for the first time that caprine anaplasmosis is endemic in Hungary. Rickettsia spp. were demonstrated from Linognathus spp. and H. eurysternus. No haemotropic mycoplasmas were detected in any samples. In conclusion, this is the first molecularly confirmed report of bovine and ovine Anaplasma spp. in L. vituli, L. stenopsis and H. suis. The present results suggest that phthirapterosis of domestic animals deserves more attention, and lice should be evaluated among the broad range of potential vectors of arthropod-borne pathogens.

Introduction

The blood-sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) are permanent, host-specific ectoparasites of mammals. Their veterinary significance may be twofold. First, they can be responsible for economical losses by inducing pathophysiological changes in their hosts, i.e. weight loss, hide damage and mild to severe anaemia – the latter especially in cattle (Nelson et al., 1970, Gibney et al., 1985, Otter et al., 2003). Secondly, as vectors, they can transmit louse-borne pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa) to susceptible hosts. In this respect, their biological vector role usually means persistent development of disease agents in their gut cells, with or without consequent passing in their faeces. In either case, they do not inoculate the pathogen during a next blood-sucking, but it is rubbed into the host's skin inadvertently (Durden and Lloyd, 2009). Alternatively, if lice are short-term mechanical vectors, it becomes possible that within hours of their former feeding they inoculate disease agents attached to their mouthparts (Shope, 1940, Crystal, 1958). A prerequisite for both types of transmission is that lice transfer between hosts, which is an integral aspect of their behaviour (Durden and Lloyd, 2009).

Reports on pediculosis of domestic animals are scarce, and prevalence data from several parts of Europe are lacking or outdated. Correspondingly, in veterinary medicine the epidemiological significance and vector potential of anopluran lice also appears to be underestimated or insufficiently evaluated. In part, this may be due to the regular and widespread use of broad spectrum endectocides that are given to kill parasites other than lice. However, it must be kept in mind that in areas with lower standards of livestock management lice and their vector role should not be neglected or discounted: on the contrary, they may represent emerging problems (Otter et al., 2003, Bisdorff et al., 2006). Therefore this study was undertaken to elucidate the occurrence of sucking lice of ruminants and pigs in Hungary, and to contribute to the general knowledge on the potential vector role of relevant species.

Section snippets

Sample collection

Adults and nymphs of blood-sucking lice have been removed from domestic animals kept indoors during the winter time. Sampling was performed from cattle on four farms, from goats on three farms, and from pigs in one farm, during March of 2009 in central and north-eastern Hungary. A total of 173 cattle, 50 goats and 350 pigs were included in the study. All animals were immobilized and their whole body surface scrutinized for the presence of lice. During sampling the predilection sites for

Results and discussion

Altogether 1182 sucking lice were collected (Table 1). All species occurring on relevant hosts in the temperate zone were found (Durden and Lloyd, 2009). However, this is the first report of Solenopotes capillatus from Hungary (Piotrowski, 1970). Comparing the anopluran species of cattle, S. capillatus was the rarest (Table 1), with highly overdispersed intensities of infestation (three cows with only one specimen, and one with 37). Linognathus vituli individuals were significantly more

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the invaluable help of Dr. Gábor Pintér and Dr. Gábor Zajzon in sample collection. Molecular biology work was partially performed using the logistics of the Center for Clinical Studies at the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Zurich. Regina Hofmann-Lehmann is the recipient of a professorship from the Swiss National Science Foundation (PP00P3-119136). Sándor Hornok is supported by the Bolyai János scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

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