Eradication of Lice in Cattle.docVIP

Acta vet. scand. 2001, 42, 81-89. Eradication of Lice in Cattle By O. Nafstad and H. Gr?nst?l Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway. Nafstad O, Gr?nst?l H: Eradication of lice in cattle. Acta vet. scand. 2001, 42, 81- 89 – The purpose of this ?eld study was to develop and evaluate eradication as a strat- egy to control lice in cattle. Thirty-three herds of cattle were selected and observed dur- ing a period of two and a half years. Before eradication, biting lice (Damalinia bovis) were present in 94% of the herds and 27% of the animals. Sucking lice (Linognathus vi- tuli) were present in 42% of the herds and 5% of the animals. These levels were very similar to those reported from other countries in Northern Europe. The eradication strategy was successful in 28 of 33 herds, but lice were still present in 5 herds 3 to 6 months after treatment. Biting lice were present in all these 5 herds, suck- ing lice were present in 3 herds. During the next 12 months, nine of the 28 herds were reinfected with lice. Six herds were reinfected with just biting lice, 2 herds with just sucking lice and one herd was reinfected with both. There was no signi?cant difference between the 2 louse species regarding the risk of unsuccessful eradication or reinfection. The only signi?cant risk factor for reinfection was either purchase of livestock or use of common pasture, combined with failure in pre-treatment of newly introduced animals. lice; cattle; Damalinia bovis; Linognathus vituli; eradication strategy. Introduction Pediculosis in cattle occurs throughout the world, and is more common in cattle than in any other domestic animal (Urquhart et al. 1987). Two species of lice are endemic in Norwegian cattle, biting lice (Damalinia (Bovicola) bovis (Linnaeus 1758)) and sucking lice (Linogna- thus vituli (Linnaeus 1758)). Cattle lice cause irritation and restlessness, but there are con-