Cattle Ectoparasites and Their Control Rachel Mallet, Bimeda Professional Services Vet Global Excellence in Animal Health
Parasitism Key Terms Parasitism is the association of two organisms, one of which (the parasite) benefits by nourishing itself at the expense of the other (the host) but without normally destroying it. An endo-parasite is a parasite living within the body of its host. An ecto-parasite is a parasite spending some part of its life on the body of its host.
Parasitism Parasites Cause: Direct disease and death Lowered productivity Zoonoses Irritation Other Disease Transmission
Cattle Ectoparasites Mites Lice Ticks Flies
Lice Cattle always have a very low burden of lice which live on the coat In healthy animals this remains low causing no problem but this burden can greatly increase under certain circumstances -Less time feeding -Damaged hides -Intense irritation
Should you be worried about Lice? Infestation could be the first sign of an underlying disease as lice seem to be able to exploit animals which are in poor health As a result I always recommend farmers liaise with a vet to determine if there are any underlying health issues in addition to simply treating the lice
Lice Life Cycle
Lice Affecting Cattle Chewing Lice The chewing lice have robust round heads and feed on skin and hair debris Bovicola bovis is one of the most common parasites to affect cattle. A severe skin reaction causes hairs to loosen and self-trauma will lead to patches being pulled/ rubbed off. Sucking Lice Sucking lice have piercing mouthparts and feed on the blood and serous fluid of the host animal Linognathus vituli (The long-nosed cattle louse) Haematopinus eurysternus (The short nosed louse) Solenoptes capillatus (The little blue cattle louse.
Diagnosis Diagnosis The cattle lice can be seen with the naked eye when parting the hair This diagnosis will then be backed up by examination under the microscope
Lice Treatment Group Active Ingredient Efficacy against Lice Pour-On/Spot on Deltamethrin Ivermectin Permethrin Alpha-cypermethrin Eprinomectin Dormectin Moxidectin Injectables Ivermectin * Moxidectin * Doramectin * Eprinomectin * Lice take advantage of cattle in poor health so ensure you investigate to determine if any underlying disease exists *Sucking lice only
Mites Disease caused by mite infection is known as mange Chorioptes bovis is the most common mite Observed most frequently in housed cattle, particularly dairy animals. The cow can show no symptoms with a low burden of infection and thus animals can act as carriers and transfer the mites other animals. If mite numbers reach high densities clinical pathology may be observed. Clinically affected animals may have skin lesions
Mite Treatment Group Active Ingredient Efficacy against Mites? Pour-on Permethrin Ivermectin * Moxidectin Eprinomectin Doramectin Injectable Ivermectin Moxidectin Doramectin Eprinomectin * Ideally stock should be moved to a clean area to prevent re-infection or treatment should be repeated if efficacy is less than 12 days *Sarcoptic mange only
Ticks The tick itself may not cause an issue for the animal but the disease which it may carry could. Babesiosis (Redwater) This parasite lives inside the red blood cells of the host animal It causes the red blood cells to rupture Thankfully cattle become relatively resistance following exposure so even in areas where it is endemic clinical disease is normally rare
Tick Treatment In the UK there is no product licenced for treating ticks in cattle A Veterinary surgeon can use the cascade to prescribe a product which is licenced for the same use in another species.
Flies Often cluster on the ventral abdomen and udder Summer Mastitis The bacteria involved in summer mastitis has been isolated from these flies so it is assumed they are responsible for spreading it. New Forest Disease/Pinkeye Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis This fly is also believed to transmit infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis.
Fly Prevention Group Active Ingredient Fly Prevention Ear Tag Pour on Cypermethrin cis50:trans50 Alphacypermethrin Permethrin Deltamethrin Moxidectin Doramectin Ivermectin * horn flies only *horn flies only * horn flies only Dung piles, slurry pits, calf pens and even carcasses are an excellent breeding ground for flies so take environmental action to reduce the overall challenge