Cattle and Equine Lice Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which louse is most abundant and clinically important in cattle populations?

Haematopinus asini

Bovicola ocellatus

Bovicola (Damalinia) bovis (correct)

Bovicola equi

What is a common clinical sign associated with heavy lice infestations in equines?

Weight gain

Sores from rubbing (correct)

Increased appetite

Excessive grooming behavior

Which louse is described as occurring in both donkeys and horses?

Bovicola equi

Haematopinus asini (correct)

Bovicola ocellatus

Bovicola (Damalinia) bovis

What is often associated with infestations caused by Haematopinus asini in horses?

Lesions called light spots Signup and view all the answers

In what season are heavy lice infestations most commonly observed in equines?

Winter Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of adults in the specified lice species?

They are dorsoventrally flattened. Signup and view all the answers

Which segment count is associated with the antennae of amblyceran lice?

4-segmented Signup and view all the answers

What factor is NOT mentioned as contributing to fluctuations in lice populations?

Rural housing conditions Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic differentiates the first pair of legs in lice of the Linognathidae family?

They are shorter than the other pairs. Signup and view all the answers

Which method of spread is NOT a means to infest lice?

Vertical transmission only Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of chewing lice of birds regarding their legs?

They have two claws on each leg. Signup and view all the answers

What is the survival time away from hosts for chewing and blood-sucking lice?

2-4 days and 4-7 days Signup and view all the answers

Which host characteristic is likely to harbor more lice?

Distressed animals Signup and view all the answers

Which species is known as the hog louse?

Haematopinus suis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following lice species is known to cause anemia?

Menacanthus cornutus Signup and view all the answers

What type of lice is found primarily on the neck and shoulders of animals?

Blood-sucking lice Signup and view all the answers

Which species is the most important body louse in poultry?

Menacanthus stramineus Signup and view all the answers

Where are larger numbers of lice typically found on an animal?

Near body openings or skin abrasions Signup and view all the answers

Which louse species affects ducks?

Anaticola crassicornis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about louse infestations is true?

Chewing and sucking lice infestations can occur sporadically. Signup and view all the answers

Which is NOT a species of louse mentioned in the content?

Dermanyssus gallinae Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary habitat preference of Tsetse flies from the morsitans group?

Dry savanna habitats Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about Tsetse flies is NOT true?

They are mostly active at night. Signup and view all the answers

What is the average temperature range for Tsetse fly habitats?

16 to 40 ºC Signup and view all the answers

What does the genus name 'Glossina' translate to in English?

Tongue fly Signup and view all the answers

Which method is NOT commonly used for controlling Tsetse fly populations?

Physical barriers Signup and view all the answers

How long can the maximum lifespan of a female Tsetse fly be?

3 to 4 months Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason the control of nematodes is considered difficult?

Resistance to chemicals Signup and view all the answers

Which Tsetse fly group is associated primarily with forested habitats?

Fusca group Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following insect growth regulators (IGRs) is NOT mentioned in the content?

Pyriproxyfen Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method suggested for controlling flea larvae indoors?

Vacuum cleaning the environment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a biological control method mentioned for flea management?

Entomopathogen nematodes Signup and view all the answers

How long is the biological control method effective against flea larvae and cocoons when applied?

4-6 weeks Signup and view all the answers

In which areas should flea treatments be sprayed for maximum effect?

Shady and wet areas Signup and view all the answers

What common misconception is associated with flea adulticide treatment indoors?

Flea larvae often escape treatment Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Integrated Flea Management strategies?

Combination of prevention and control methods Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following true bugs is known to feed on human blood?

Cimex lectularius Signup and view all the answers

During which months is the activity period of adults in Europe observed?

May to October Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical number of eggs a female can lay in humid soil?

100-1000 Signup and view all the answers

What is the pupal period of these flies?

1-4 weeks Signup and view all the answers

What kind of stimuli do Tabanids use to detect their hosts?

Chemical and visual stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of positive polarotaxis in Tabanids?

It directs them to sources of polarized light for locating hosts. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a biological vector associated with Tsetse flies?

Fungi Signup and view all the answers

What is the average duration for a complete life cycle from egg to adult?

1 year, potentially extending to 2-3 years Signup and view all the answers

What are Tabanids primarily attracted to in potential hosts?

Dark fur coats Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Veterinary Entomology

Deals with arthropod pests and disease vectors affecting livestock, poultry, pets, and wildlife.
Two key categories of ectoparasites:
- Facultative: can survive without a host (e.g., flies).
- Obligatory: require a specific host species to survive (e.g., blood-feeding lice).
Arthropods are classified by their parasitism:
- Permanent/stationary ectoparasites
- Temporary ectoparasites
- Adults only
- Larvae only
- Subadults and adults
Common veterinary pests include sucking and biting lice, fleas, biting flies, non-biting muscoid flies, myiasis-causing flies, mites, and ticks.

Reproduction of Arthropods

Sexual dimorphism may occur.
Females are often oviparous (lay eggs), ovoviviparous (eggs hatch inside the female), or larviparous (give birth to larva).
Life cycles vary, with some displaying hemimetabolic (incomplete metamorphosis) development and others holometablic (complete metamorphosis) development, including a pupal stage.

Impact of Ectoparasites

Direct effects: blood loss, hide/wool/tissue damage, nuisance, paralysis, allergies, and immunosuppression
Indirect effects: reduced animal production, nuisance to workers and neighbors, costs of control, and transmission of zoonotic diseases.

Lice Infestations (Pediculosis)

Chewing/Biting Lice (Mallophaga) feed on skin scales, lipids, and bacteria. They include species like Felicola subrostratus only in feline or cat species, which is sometimes associated with the infestations in birds.
Blood-Sucking Lice(Anoplura) rely on blood for sustenance. Some species of concern in veterinary settings.

Fleas

Ectoparasites of mammals, birds, and even humans.
Historically, crucial to numerous infectious diseases (e.g., plague).
Numerous species, 90% parasitizing mammals.
Many are nidicolous (nest dwelling).
Important genera include Ctenocephalides (dog and cat fleas), and Pulex (human flea).
Fleas are characterized by their jumping ability and highly flattened bodies.
Feature combs called ctenidia on the head and thorax.
Major source of ectoparasite problems mostly in dogs and cats and also to humans. They may be found around the pets.
Adults feed on blood, short life time, 15-30 days.
Mostly living around the hosts.
Life cycles of holometobolic types including eggs, larvae, pupae and adults.
Larvae feed on organic matter.

True Bugs (Hemiptera)

Primarily phytophagous (plant feeders) but also includes some predatory species.
Major groups include Cimex (bed bugs; Cimex lectularius is a major urban pest), and Triatoma (kissing or assassin bugs).
Bed bugs are blood suckers, they feed on hosts at night.
Kissing bugs are blood suckers, with some species being vectors for Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Their biting style is sometimes characterized as kissing the skin.

Coleoptera

The beetle order.
Includes the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) but is not a parasite.
This beetle is a stored-product pest.

Diptera (Flies)

Includes mosquitoes (Culex, Aedes, Anopheles), black flies (Simulium ), biting midges (Culicoides), and other Diptera species of importance in veterinary science.
Many mosquito larvae are found in water.
Females of most species require a blood meal before they can lay eggs.
Many species are crepuscular or nocturnal, and feed primarily in or near or around water sources.
Some species are vectors of important diseases like Malaria (Plasmodium species).
Many species are attracted to animals, especially those with wet or wounds.
Black flies are diurnal (active during the day).
Biting midges are also diurnal and feed near their breeding place.
Some are vectors for significant diseases as well as for nuisance.
Some species may cause myasis as well as transmit viruses or bacteria.

Other Important Pests

Ticks (Ixodidae): Hard ticks (e.g., Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor spp.) and soft ticks (e.g., Argas spp.). Ticks are vectors of many diseases, including Lyme disease. They are generally found in moist environments in wooded areas, but not only.
Mites (Prostigmata/Mesostigmata): Chiggers (e.g., Trombicula spp.), mange mites (e.g., Sarcoptes spp.), poultry red mites (e.g., Dermanyssus gallinae), and other mites.

Botflies (Oestridae)

Some Oestrus species are external parasites in veterinary practice.
The Hypoderma species lay eggs on the host.
The larval stages develop internally, causing myiasis.
These are external parasites.
The external infestations are caused by oviposition of the flies.
The botflies are mainly characterized by the fact that their larval stages cause myiasis.

Control Methods

Chemical control: using insecticides (e.g., ivermectin, fipronil, permethrin).
Non-chemical control: physical removal of pests (e.g., combing, vacuuming), reducing breeding areas (proper waste disposal), introducing natural predators.

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Description

Test your knowledge on lice affecting cattle and equines! This quiz covers their clinical importance, signs of infestation, and specific characteristics of lice species. Dive into the details of these pests and understand their impact on livestock health.