Porcine Lice and Mange Study Guide

Overview and Clinical Importance

External parasites, particularly lice (pediculosis) and mange mites (acariosis), represent significant ectoparasitic diseases affecting swine production worldwide. These conditions cause substantial economic losses through reduced growth rates, decreased feed efficiency, impaired fertility, and downgraded carcasses at slaughter. Understanding these parasites is essential for NAVLE success as they represent high-yield topics in swine integumentary diseases.

Haematopinus suis (hog louse) is the only louse species affecting domestic pigs and serves as a vector for swine pox virus, African swine fever, and Mycoplasma suis (formerly Eperythrozoon suis). Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis causes the most economically important ectoparasitic disease in swine, while Demodex phylloides causes rare demodectic mange in immunocompromised animals.

Porcine Lice (Pediculosis)

Etiology and Classification

Haematopinus suis (hog louse) is the only louse species that infests domestic and wild pigs. It is one of the largest sucking lice (Order Anoplura) affecting livestock, measuring 5-6 mm in length, making it visible to the naked eye. The louse has a grayish-brown body with dark markings, a narrow pointed head, and large claws for grasping hair shafts.