Two New Species of Sucking Lice (Psocodea: Phthiraptera: Hoplopleuridae) from Chestnut Mice, Pseudomys gracilicaudatus and Pseudomys nanus (Rodentia: Muridae), in Australia.

We describe two new species of sucking lice in the genus Hoplopleura Enderlein, 1904 (Psocodea: Phthiraptera: Hoplopleuridae) from Australia: Hoplopleura gracilicaudatusa n. sp. from the eastern chestnut mouse Pseudomys gracilicaudatus (Gould) (Rodentia: Muridae), and Hoplopleura nanusa n. sp. from the western chestnut mouse Pseudomys nanus (Gould) (Rodentia: Muridae). Pseudomys Gray is the most speciose genus of rodents endemic to Australia with 24 species; however, only two Pseudomys species have been reported previously to be hosts of sucking lice. The description of the new species in the present study doubles the number of sucking louse species known to parasitize Pseudomys mice and increases the total number of sucking louse species known from endemic Australian rodents from 21 to 23. Pseudomys gracilicaudatus and P. nanus are closely related murines that diverged ~1 MYA with distinct and widely separated extant geographic distributions. The two new Hoplopleura species described in the present study share some morphological characters and likely co-evolved and co-speciated with their chestnut mouse hosts.

A New Species of Sucking Louse (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Polyplacidae) From the Gray Mouse Lemur, Microcebus murinus (Primates: Cheirogaleidae), in Madagascar.

Lemurpediculus madagascariensis sp. nov. (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Polyplacidae) is described from the Gray Mouse lemur, Microcebus murinus (J. F. Miller) (Primates: Cheirogaleidae), from Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar. Lemurs were trapped using Sherman Live Traps and visually inspected for lice, which were preserved in 90% ethanol. Adults of both sexes and the third-instar nymph of the new species are illustrated and distinguished from the four previously known species of Lemurpediculus: L. verruculosus (Ward); L. petterorum Paulian; L. claytoni Durden, Blanco, and Seabolt; and L. robbinsi Durden, Blanco, and Seabolt. It is not known if the new species of louse is a vector of any pathogens or parasites.

Uncovering deep mysteries: the underwater life of an amphibious louse.

Despite the incredible success of insects in colonizing almost every habitat, they remain virtually absent in one major environment--the open sea. A variety of hypotheses have been raised to explain why just a few insect species are present in the ocean, but none of them appears to be fully explanatory. Lice belonging to the family Echinophthiriidae are ectoparasites on different species of pinnipeds and river otters, i.e. they have amphibious hosts, who regularly perform long excursions into the open sea reaching depths of hundreds of meters (thousands of feets). Consequently, lice must be able to support not only changes in their surrounding media, but also extreme variations in hydrostatic pressure as well as breathing in a low oxygen atmosphere. In order to shed some light on the way lice can survive during the diving excursions of their hosts, we have performed a series of experiments to test the survival capability of different instars of Antarctophthirus microchir (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) from South American sea lions Otaria flavescens, when submerged into seawater. These experiments were aimed at analyzing: (a) immersion tolerance along the louse life; (b) lice's ability to obtain oxygen from seawater; (c) physiological responses and mechanisms involved in survival underwater. Our experiments showed that the forms present in non-diving pups--i.e. eggs and first-instar nymphs--were unable to tolerate immersion in water, while following instars and adults, all usually found in diving hosts, supported it very well. Furthermore, as long as the level of oxygen dissolved in water was higher, the lice survival capability underwater increased, and the recovery period after returning to air declined. These results are discussed in relation to host ecology, host exploitation and lice functional morphology.

Fragmented mitochondrial genomes of the rat lice, Polyplax asiatica and Polyplax spinulosa: intra-genus variation in fragmentation pattern and a possible link between the extent of fragmentation and the length of life cycle.

BACKGROUND: Blood-sucking lice (suborder Anoplura) parasitize eutherian mammals with 67% of the 540 described species found on rodents. The five species of blood-sucking lice that infest humans and pigs have fragmented mitochondrial genomes and differ substantially in the extent of fragmentation. To understand whether, or not, any life-history factors are linked to such variation, we sequenced the mt genomes of Polyplax asiatica and Polyplax spinulosa, collected from the greater bandicoot rat, Bandicota indica, and the Asian house rat, Rattus tanezumi, respectively. RESULTS: We identified all of the 37 mitochondrial genes common to animals in Polyplax asiatica and Polyplax spinulosa. The mitochondrial genes of these two rat lice are on 11 circular minichromosomes; each minichromosome is 2-4 kb long and has 2-7 genes. The two rat lice share the same pattern for the distribution of the protein-coding genes and ribosomal RNA genes over the minichromosomes, but differ in the pattern for the distribution of 8 of the 22 transfer RNA genes. The mitochondrial genomes of the Polyplax rat lice have 3.4 genes, on average, on each minichromosome and, thus, are less fragmented than those of the human lice (2.1 and 2.4 genes per minichromosome), but are more fragmented than those of the pig lice (4.1 genes per minichromosome). CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed distinct patterns of mitochondrial genome fragmentation within the genus Polyplax and, furthermore, indicated a possible inverse link between the extent of mitochondrial genome fragmentation and the length of life cycle of the blood-sucking lice.

First report of family infestation with pubic louse (Pthirus pubis; Insecta: Anoplura: Pthiridae) in Iran--a case report.

The sucking lice including the head, body and pubic louse infest humans and so they are of high hygienic importance. Pubic lice are transmitted during sexual contact in adults. Thus, infestation of children with pubis louse is very rare. A case of infestation with pubic louse (Pthirus pubis) in a family in Kashan was seen. On examination of family members, the parasites were collected and observed under the light microscope. Infestation of eyelashes with P. pubis lice was confirmed. Since this parasite can be observed on the skin, infestation with this louse has always been one of the concerns of human communities. Pthiriasis has frequently been reported in many parts of the world; however, there are few reports on this infestation in Iran, especially familial infestation with this louse. Hence, this article could be the first report on the familial infestation with P. pubis in Iran and it can be suggested that infestation with pubic lice occurs in sporadic form in all over the country.

Life begins when the sea lion is ashore: microhabitat use by a louse living on a diving mammal host.

Among Anoplura, the family Echinophthiriidae includes species that infest pinnipeds and otters. Previous evidence obtained from pinnipeds infested by echinophthiriids, specifically from seals, indicates that flippers are the preferred infestation sites, while lice from fur seals select areas in the pelage. We studied habitat selection of Antarctophthirus microchir on South American sea lion pups (Otaria flavescens Shaw, 1800) from Patagonia, Argentina, during the austral summer of 2009. We found a clear pattern of habitat selection: eggs are laid on the dorsal surface; nymphs 1 hatch there and then migrate to the belly, where they develop into adults and copulate; and then ovigerous females return to the dorsal surface. On the one hand, nymphs 1 are characterised by their low locomotory ability; therefore, the fact that they migrate as soon as they hatch suggests a clear pressure leading to microhabitat restriction. On the other hand, the described pattern of microhabitat selection seems to respond to the physiological requirements of each stage, which vary according to the physiological process considered, e.g. oviposition, morphogenesis, hatching and development. Accordingly, it appears that A. microchir would prefer the host's ventral area for development and copulation and the dorsal area for oviposition. However, the causes of this pattern are not clear, and many factors could be involved. Considering that sea lion pups periodically soak at high tides, and that prolonged immersion and very high humidity are known to be lethal for lice eggs, selecting the dorsal area would be advantageous for oviposition because it dries much faster. Furthermore, because humidity should be retained for longer periods on the ventral surface of the pup, wetter conditions on the sea lion would prevent desiccation of the nymphs in the very arid environment where O. flavescens breeds.

Epidemiological prediction of the distribution of insects of medical significance: comparative distributions of fleas and sucking lice on the rat host Rattus norvegicus in Yunnan Province, China.

Determining the distribution patterns of ectoparasites is important for predicting the spread of vector-borne diseases. A simple epidemiological model was used to compare the distributions of two different taxa of ectoparasitic insects, sucking lice (Insecta: Siphonaptera) and fleas (Insecta: Anoplura), on the same rodent host, Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout (Rodentia: Muridae), in Yunnan Province, China. Correlations between mean abundance and prevalence were determined. Both fleas and sucking lice were aggregated on their hosts, and sucking lice showed a higher degree of aggregation than fleas. The prevalence of both fleas and sucking lice increased with log-transformed mean abundance and a highly linear correlation and modelling efficiency of predicted prevalence against observed prevalence were obtained. The results demonstrate that prevalence can be explained simply by mean abundance.

First records of the louse Solenopotes binipilosus (Insecta: Phthiraptera) and the mite Psoroptes ovis (Arachnida: Acari) from wild southern huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus).

Two species of Phthiraptera, Bovicola caprae (Ischnocera: Bovicolidae) and Solenopotes binipilosus (Anoplura: Linognathidae), and one species of mite, Psoroptes ovis (Acari: Psoroptidae), were recorded on huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) in Chile. The sucking louse S. binipilosus and the mite P. ovis are reported for the first time from this host.

Prevalence of Haemodipsus (Anoplura: Polyplacidae) species found on hares (Lepus europaeus L.) in Konya Province, Turkey.

This study was carried out in order to determine the prevalence of lice on hares (Lepus europaeus L.) in the Konya province of Turkey from October 2003 to January 2007. During this period, 54 hares were examined for lice, 5 of them (11%) were found to be infested with lice and a total of 41 lice specimens were collected from the infested hares. Two species; Haemodipsus lyriocephalus (Burmeister, 1839) and H. setoni Ewing, 1924 were identified and H. lyriocephalus was more abundant than H. setoni.

Haemodipsus species occurring on hares (Lepus eurapeus, L.): two new species in Turkish lice fauna.

The aim of this paper was to give information about Haemodipsus species occurring on hares in the Konya province. Thirty three lice specimens collected from forty hares (Lepus europaeus, L.) were examined; two species, Haemodipsus lyriocephalus (Burmeister, 1839) and H. setoni (Ewing, 1924) were identified. Information about and discussion of the morphological characteristics of these species is given in this paper. This is the first time that Haemodipsus lyriocephalus and H. setoni have been reported in Turkey.

Epifaunistic arthropod parasites of the four-striped mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio, in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Flea, lice, mite, and tick species associated with 510 Rhabdomys pumilio were collected at 9 localities in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The aims of the study were first to quantify the species richness, prevalence, and relative mean intensity of infestation of epifaunistic arthropod species associated with R. pumilio, and second to determine temporal variations in the mean abundance of the parasitic arthropods. Each mouse was examined under a stereoscopic microscope and its parasites were removed, identified, and quantified. The epifaunal population was made up of more than 25,000 individuals and included 8 flea, 1 sucking louse, 11 mite, and 13 ixodid tick species. Female-biased sex ratios were noted for 9 (30%) of the ectoparasite species. Three undescribed mite and 1 undescribed tick species were recovered, and new locality records for 2 flea, the louse, and 2 mite species were documented. A phoretic host association between a nonparasitic mite species, Psylloglyphus uilenbergi kivuensis, and 3 flea species, Chiastopsylla rossi, Hypsophthalmus temporis, and Listropsylla agrippinae, was recorded. The mean abundance of the parasitic mite and insect species were higher during the cold wet season, whereas ticks were more numerous during the warm dry months. The large number of ectoparasite species on R. pumilio, a locally abundant and regionally widespread species, is of medical and veterinary importance particularly in relation to the transmission of pathogens such as Anaplasma marginale, Babesia caballi, and Babesia canis to domestic animals; Rickettsia conori; Yersinia pestis; and the viral disease Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever to humans.

Life cycle details of Solenopotes capillatus (Anoplura: Linognathidae).

The duration of immature life stages and the preoviposition period of Solenopotes capillatus Enderlein (Anoplura: Linognathidae) were determined by daily observation in vivo of individual specimens. The duration of the egg and nymphal stages was obtained by daily observation of eggs deposited by females transferred to normal predilection sites of uninfested cattle. The preoviposition period was determined by transferring third instars to uninfested cattle and then recording the period from adult eclosion to first oviposition. The egg stage required 11-13 d. Both first and second instars required 3-4 d, and third instars, based on observations of females, required 5-6 d. The preoviposition period was 2 d. Between 27 and 29 d was required for completion of the cycle (egg to egg). The size (length) of unmounted specimens, in millimeters, was egg 0.70; first instar 0.69; second instar, 0.82; third instar, 1.06; adult female, 1.50; and adult male, 1.08.

Therapeutic and persistent efficacy of spinosad applied as a pour-on or a topical spray against natural infestations of chewing and sucking lice on cattle.

Studies were conducted in Wisconsin and Illinois, USA, to assess and compare the therapeutic and persistent efficacy of spinosad when applied as either a pour-on or topical spray and compared with cyfluthrin pour-on and coumaphos topical spray for controlling natural infestations of chewing (Bovicola bovis) and sucking (Linognathus vituli, Solenopotes capillatus and Haematopinus eurysternus) lice on cattle. Thirty-five animals at each trial site were blocked according to pre-treatment lice counts and randomly allocated to one of five treatment groups: single treatments of spinosad (25 g/L), diluted with water to 0.04% active ingredient and applied as a whole-body topical spray; spinosad (25 g/L) applied as a neat pour-on at 2 mg/kg body weight; Co-Ral Emulsifiable Livestock Insecticide (5.8% coumaphos), diluted to 0.03% active ingredient and applied as a whole-body topical spray; CyLence Pour-on Insecticide (1% cyfluthrin), applied as a neat pour-on at the manufacturer's recommended use rate for lice; and untreated control. Both spinosad treatments and cyfluthrin provided > or =96% control of B. bovis for up to 7 weeks, whereas the efficacy of coumaphos dropped to <90% after week 5 at one site. Spinosad spray had the best therapeutic and residual control of all treatments against L. vituli, > or =98% for at least 5 weeks at both sites, compared with 3 weeks for coumaphos at one site. Spinosad and coumaphos sprays provided 100% control of S. capillatus for at least 8 weeks compared with > or =97% control for spinosad and cyfluthrin pour-on treatments over the same interval. While H. eurysternus burden was low and limited to one study site, all four treatments provided 100% control for at least 6 weeks. These studies showed that topically applied spinosad provided a high degree of therapeutic and residual control against both sucking and chewing lice.

[Occurrence of lice (Anoplura) in rodents from Lover Silesia]. / Wystepowanie wszy (Anoplura) u gryzoni z terenów Dolnego Slaska.

BACKGROUND: The data on the lice of small mammals, which can be the vectors of some human pathogens, are rather scarce in Poland. MATERIAL: During 2001-2004 an investigation of the lice of rodents was undertaken in the area of Lover Silesia. The research was concentrated on habitat in Masyw Slezy (about 35 km from Wroclaw, popular recreational area) and on two habitats in Wroclaw: in Osobowice (irrigation fields) and Mokry Dwór (water-bearing ground). 105 rodents belonging to three species: Apodemus agrarius (35), Apodemus flavicolis (30) and Clethrionomys glareolus (40) were examined. RESULTS: On 13 individuals of rodents 68 lice (Anoplura) of 3 species were found: Hoplopleura affinis (Burmeister, 1839)--21 females and 8 male, H. acanthopus (Burmeister, 1839)--2 females and Polyplax serrata (Burmeister, 1839)--22 females, 11 male and 4 nymphs. The prevalence of lice infestation was 12.4%; A. agrarius was the most infected rodent (prevalence 25%). The most numerous lice were P. serrata. This species was recorded on A. agrarius (11.4%) and A. flavicolis (3.3%) collected in Wroclaw, and on C. glareolus (2.5%) collected in Masyw Slezy. Only single individuals of P. serrata were found on Apodemus (the mean intensity was 1.25). A big collection (17 females, 11 males and 3 nymphs) was gathered on C. glareolus. H. affinis was found only on a typical host A. agrarius (14.3%) collected in both habitats in Wroclaw (mean intensity 4.75). H. acanthopus was found only on C. glareolus (prevalence 5.0%). No mixed infestation was recorded. Higer infestation of hosts was in habitats of Wroclaw than in Masyw Slezy.

Linognathus vituli (Anoplura: Linognathidae): population growth, dispersal and development of humoral immune responses in nai;ve calves following induced infestations.

Growth of Linognathus vituli populations following establishment at a point source was followed for 16 weeks on eight louse-naïve Holstein calves. Dispersal of lice from the point of infestation (withers) was monitored by examination of known louse predilection sights. Mean louse indices increased during the initial weeks reaching maximum mean values at 8 weeks post-infestation (p.i.). Subsequently, mean indices decreased, reaching a plateau that persisted through weeks 14 and 15 p.i. There was little movement away from the withers until 5 weeks p.i. Subsequently, numbers of lice on the withers declined, while increasing at sites on the head. A few lice were noted on the dewlap and topline sites. Host antibody responses to crude nymph antigens, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), were generally evident within 2-4 weeks of infestation. Examination of individual host data showed louse populations could be categorized relative to the mean population size for the group. Two animals were considered 'chronic', having louse populations that persisted throughout the study and whose louse indices were >150% of the group mean. Two animals were classified as 'resistant' having lice present for only a portion of the study and whose louse indices <40% of the group mean. The remaining animals had louse indices between 62 and 137% of the group mean. Antibody profiles of the individuals were not as clearly categorized, although the 'resistant' animals were only positive for short periods of time, roughly corresponding to the time when lice were observed.

The persistent efficacy of doramectin pour-on against biting and sucking louse infestations of cattle.

A repeated-exposure challenge model was used to evaluate the pour-on formulation of doramectin in preventing the establishment of louse infestations in cattle. Twenty calves cleared of preexisting biting and sucking louse infestations were randomly and equally allocated to either a doramectin-treated or untreated control group, with five replicates per group. Doramectin pour-on was administered topically at a dose rate of 500 microg/kg body weight. Every 14 days, from a pool of seeder calves with infestations of at least 50 biting and 50 sucking lice each, 10 calves were selected and 1 was placed in each replicate pen. Every week during the 112-day study, 9 predilection sites on the doramectin-treated and untreated calves were examined to estimate the louse population density. A calf met the infestation criterion for a louse species when two or more live lice were counted on two or more body regions for two consecutive count days. Because only 4 of 10 untreated calves acquired Solenopotes capillatus infestations, the persistent efficacy of doramectin against S. capillatus was not evaluated. Bovicola bovis and Linognathus vituli infestations in the untreated calves developed shortly after exposure to infested seeder calves. The acquisition of B. bovis and L. vituli infestations in the doramectin-treated group was delayed for 77 days and 105 days, respectively.

Prevalence and intensity of the ectoparasite Echinophthirius horridus on harbour seals (Phoca vitulina): effects of host age and inter-annual variability in host food availability.

The epidemiology of the sucking lice Echinophthirius horridus was studied over a 4 year period in which their harbour seal hosts experienced marked inter-annual changes in food availability. Prevalence and intensity of infection varied in relation to host age but not sex. Burdens were highest on immature seals, but both prevalence and intensity of infection were significantly higher in years when food availability was low. Observed intra-population variations in ectoparasite dynamics suggested that reported geographical differences in the prevalence of E. horridus may have resulted from methodological differences. In contrast to previous studies of other pinnipeds, lice were also absent on weaned pups, suggesting that E. horridus is transferred horizontally. No significant differences were found in the haematological parameters of infected and uninfected hosts. Nevertheless, there was a significant negative correlation between intensity of infection and several erythrocyte parameters, suggesting that high burdens of lice may compromise diving ability.

Immunization of rabbits with faecal extract of Pediculus humanus, the human body louse: effects on louse development and reproduction.

Immunization of rabbits with a faecal extract of the human body louse (Pediculus humanus) induced a high titre of specific IgG. The mean weight of blood taken by females fed on the immunized rabbits was significantly lower (29%) than taken by females fed on the control rabbits. The mean number of eggs per female fed on the immunized rabbits was significantly lower than for females fed on the control rabbits. The hatchability of the eggs laid by lice fed on immunized rabbits (91%) was significantly lower than of those fed on control rabbits (94%). The rate of development of nymphs fed on control rabbits was significantly higher than those fed on the immunized rabbits. There was no difference in survival rates of lice fed on immunized and control rabbits.

[Description of pre-imaginal and imaginal stages of Haematopinus apri (Anoplura)]. / Opis stadiów mlodocianych i redeskrypcja postaci doroslych Haematopinus apri (Anoplura).

There is a description of pre-imaginal and imaginal stages of Haematopinus apri, a common ectoparasites of wild boar Sus scrofa. There are tables with features differentiating the development stages, which were constructed based on chaetotaxia and body measurements. This paper contains redescription of adults of H. apri too.

Cattle lice (Anoplura, Mallophaga) in New York: seasonal population changes, effects of housing type on infestations of calves, and sampling efficiency.

A year-long survey was made of commercial dairy herds in New York for cattle lice (Anoplura and Mallophaga). All herds were infested with lice. The cattle bitting louse, Bovicola bovis (L.), accounted for about 90% of the observed infestations; infestations of mature animals were most common during the winter months, especially March (26% infested); and infestation rates of calves were high (30-45%) from January through June. Cows that were housed in stanchion barns were about twice as likely to be infested (24.7%) as were those in free stalls (11.1%). Calves housed in individual outdoor hutches had substantially lower infestation rates (4.5%) than calves maintained inside barns in collective stalls and pens (46.0%).