Detection of Lice Species (Phthiraptera) Infesting Cattle in Van Province
Lice Species (Phthiraptera) Infesting Cattle
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1071/ejmbs.v6i1.73Keywords:
Animal-level infestation, Bovicola bovis, Clinical signs, District distribution, Linognathus vituli, Sex ratioAbstract
This study aimed to identify louse species infesting cattle in the Erciş, Muradiye, and Çaldıran districts of Van Province, Türkiye, and to determine animal-level infestation rates and sex distribution of collected lice. Between January and May 2025, 113 cattle from farms selected according to predefined criteria were clinically examined, and lice were collected from standardized body regions. Specimens were cleared in 10% KOH, dehydrated through a graded alcohol series, mounted in Canada balsam, and identified morphologically under a light microscope. Differences in infestation rates among districts and sex ratios were analyzed using the chi-square test. Of the 113 cattle examined, 52 were infested, giving an overall infestation rate of 46.02%. A total of 890 lice were collected, including 588 (66.07%) Bovicola bovis and 302 (33.93%) Linognathus vituli. The highest infestation rate was recorded in Erciş (59.52%), followed by Çaldıran (38.46%) and Muradiye (37.50%), but the difference among districts was not statistically significant (χ² = 4.915, df = 2, p = 0.086). Females were significantly more abundant than males in both B. bovis (χ² = 11.44, df = 1, p < 0.001) and L. vituli (χ² = 12.73, df = 1, p < 0.001). Clinical findings included pruritus (86.5%), dull coat and hair loss (73.1%), and dermatitis (42.3%). These findings indicate that cattle lice infestation remains common in Van Province, with B. bovis as the predominant species, and highlight the need for integrated control strategies.
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