Content
Cattle are susceptible not only to infectious diseases in the event of unfavorable living conditions. Weak, unkempt animals are often attacked by parasites. Siphunculatosis in cattle is a disease caused by certain types of ectoparasites, that is, insects that live on the skin of livestock.
What is siphunculatosis
We can say that this is the same as lice in humans. In other words, this is an infestation of cattle with lice. All parasites of this type belong to the suborder Anoplura, which was formerly called Siphunculata. Hence the preserved name of the diseases. More than one type of lice parasitizes cattle. In order not to specify the species of insects each time, any lice infestation is called siphunculatosis.
In total, at least 50 species of lice live in Europe. On cattle you can find 4 types of lice and 1 lice.Since in the English-speaking tradition the lice eater is called the chewing/red little louse, infection with this parasite is often also called siphunculatosis.
Whip beetle (Bovicolabovis)
It differs from lice in its head, which is wider than the chest, and in its food supply. Like other animals parasitizing cattle, it belongs to the order Phthiraptera. But belongs to the suborder Mallophaga, while blood-sucking lice are members of the suborder Anoplura. Size 1-2 mm. The color of the head is dark red, the body is pale yellow. The English name for the lice eater, “little red louse,” comes from the head and size.
Habitats on the host: head, neck, back, croup. This insect feeds on wool, skin, and fatty secretions. Doesn't drink blood. The life cycle with incomplete transformation lasts on average 42 days.
This is what lice eaters look like in macro photography
Bull burnet (Haematopinus eurysternus)
It is also “sheep louse”, and in the English-speaking tradition “short-headed cattle louse”. Length 1.5 mm. The color is brown, with a shiny chitinous cover. Blood-sucking. The main habitats for cattle: head and neck.
Blue long-headed louse (Linognathus vituli)
Body length 2 mm. The color of the abdomen is dark blue. The first pair of legs is shorter than the other two. Lays eggs on the host. The eggs are dark in color and may not be visible on the fur.
The period from laying to the emergence of the nymph is 2 weeks. Life cycle 2-3 weeks. The lifespan of the imago is about a month.
Common Habitats:
- head;
- neck;
- shoulders;
- croup
If siphunculatosis is severely advanced and the population has grown, this type of ectoparasite can be found everywhere on the body of cattle.
Little blue louse (Solenopotes capillatus)
A sedentary organism 1-2 mm long. This is the smallest blood-sucking louse that causes siphunculosis in cattle. The color is bluish. Habitats: muzzle, forehead, eyes, neck.The development cycle “from egg to egg” is 27-29 days.
Tail louse (Haematopinus quadripertusus)
The largest of the parasites that cause siphunculosis in cattle. The adult size is 4-5 mm. It is distinguished by a dark chest plate and legs of the same size. Common habitats: head and tail. Life expectancy is about a month. From the moment the egg is laid until the nymph hatches, it takes 9-25 days. The average life cycle is about 2-3 weeks. Feeds on blood.
Adult female Haematopinus quadripertusus (A: dorsal and B: ventral), black stripe corresponds to 1 mm
Adult male Haematopinus quadripertusus (A: dorsal and B: ventral), black stripe represents 1 mm
Ways of infection with siphunculatosis
Lice are sedentary insects and can live only 7-10 days without a host. Infection usually occurs:
- upon contact of animals in a cattle herd;
- when the calf comes into contact with the uterus;
- as a result of contact of a healthy individual with infected fur.
The latter is typical during cattle shedding, when animals scratch themselves on various objects to get rid of winter hair.
One of the ways of infection with bovine siphunculatosis
Signs of cattle infection with siphunculatosis
Since in the English-language literature any flightless and non-jumping small parasite on cattle is automatically classified as lice, any of them is the cause of siphunculatosis. The signs are also similar due to the fact that all these insects cause mange in cattle. Making a diagnosis is not difficult: lice are visible to the naked eye. In advanced cases, thickened, inelastic skin can be seen. Dermatitis occurs due to bites. The coat becomes brittle, dull and disheveled.
Tail lice around a cow's eye
Danger of siphunculatosis
Lice bites themselves are not dangerous. But parasites inject saliva into the wounds, which irritates the skin and causes scabies. As a result of scratching, pathogenic microflora penetrates the body through damaged skin. Lice can also be carriers of leptospirosis and brucellosis, the pathogens of which they excrete in excrement. But leptospira enters the blood through the same scratching, since in the process of scratching the cattle rubs lice feces into the skin.
Due to the disturbing itching caused by lice, cattle significantly reduce productivity. Not only milk yields fall, but also weight gain.
Cattle sick with sinfuculatosis
Treatment of siphunculatosis in cattle
Treatment methods for siphunculatosis depend on the number of livestock. What is suitable for a private owner is often not suitable for a farmer with a large herd of cattle.
Treatment of siphunculatosis in large livestock
Preparations for industrial cattle farms are divided into 3 types:
- for surface treatment;
- non-systemic drugs applied to the skin and acting only on ectoparasites;
- injections and inhalations of systemic action, which destroy not only ecto-, but also endoparasites.
Some non-systemic drugs require a single dose, others need to be used twice with an interval of 2 weeks. Once used, those products are effective for a long time, since lice eggs are well protected from external influences. If the insecticide affects the parasite only through the intestinal tract, then repeated treatment will be needed to kill the nymphs that emerge from the eggs after 9-14 days.
Tail lice at macro magnification: yellow arrow – nymphs, white – adults
Precautionary measures
When treating siphunculatosis in cattle, there is no need to use injections of systemic drugs from November 1 to February 1. Cattle can also be infected with botfly larvae. Systemic drugs also work on them. But, having died in the gastrointestinal tract or in the spinal canal, decomposing larvae can cause blood poisoning in cattle. The last time of the year, prevention of siphunculatosis can be carried out during autumn weaning.
Treatment of siphunculatosis in a private yard
With careful attention to animals, the appearance of lice is a rare occurrence. If the cow does become infected with siphunculatosis, you can get by with regular anti-flea products for domestic animals. They are sold at any pet store. To treat cattle, you need to choose powder or spray. You can also buy the concentrate in ampoules and dilute it with water.
The cow is taken out of the stall and tied in the far corner, where cattle usually do not go. Lice cannot fly or jump, so surviving lice are unlikely to crawl back to the barn. The animal is treated with an anti-flea drug and left to stand on a leash for 1-2 hours.
While dying and fleeing lice are falling from the cattle, the owner needs to completely clear the stall of bedding and treat the entire area with insecticides. It is better to use long-acting drugs based on pyrethroids.
After 2 weeks, the treatment of the animal and the premises must be repeated.
Prevention of siphunculatosis in cattle
Cattle get sick with siphunculatosis in case of poor living conditions and weakened immunity. Therefore, the main preventive measures consist of the banal maintenance of cleanliness in the barn and regular pest control of the premises. The latter is carried out every 2 weeks in warm weather.
Lice are easily combed out of animal fur using combs and brushes. In other words, the cow must be brushed daily, without leaving crusts of dried manure on its sides and legs. Such crusts are excellent protection for ectoparasites, allowing them to reproduce safely.
The first lice treatment of the year is carried out before cattle are turned out to pasture. This is done with systemic drugs that protect against all parasitic organisms. Repeated treatments are carried out according to the instructions, depending on the duration of the active substance. The last time treatment and prevention of siphunculatosis is done is in the fall, during weaning of calves.
Conclusion
Siphunculatosis in cattle is a direct consequence of unsanitary conditions in the barn. Cleaned, well-groomed cows usually do not have lice, since when they try to move to a new host, the parasites will be combed out along with dead particles of skin and hair.
