Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Class: Insecta
• Subclass: Pterygota
• Order: Phthiraptera (Mallophaga)
• Superfamily: Boopiidae
• Genus: Heterodoxus
• Species: Spiniger

Active Forms

Resting Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• Adults and nymphs slow moving, grasping hairs
• Eggs attached to hair shafts close to the skin.

Lifecycle

• Adult.
• Egg (becomes embryonated).
• 3 instars as moults.

Transmission

• Direct contact with the coat of infected canids.
• Infested environment.

Pathological effects

• Infestations can be subclinical with minimal pathological change in the skin.
• Dermatitis with associated histopathological changes can occur at bite sites.
• Heavy infestations can lead to anemia with fatal cases reported.

Other Host Effects

• Adults feed on skin and blood of hosts through biting/chewing.

Control

Control via animal

• Ectoparasite treatment.
• Physical removal of adults and eggs by combing.
• Screening of dogs with relevant clinical signs that have been imported from endemic countries.
• Good hand hygiene around infected dogs.

Control via chemotherapies

• Ivermectin Ivermectin, pyrethrin Pyrethrins, Carbaryl Carbaryl and fipronil Fipronil have all been efficacious in treating infestations.
• Moxidectin Moxidectin and selamectin Selamectin have efficacy against other biting lice.

Control via environment

• Eggs and adults shed on hair into the environment may survive for a few days.
• Keeping kennel environments dry and clean, washing bedding at least 50°C, daily vacuuming and treatment of the environment with pyrethroids.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Norhidayu S, Mohd Zain S N, Jeffery J et al (2012) The dog louse Heterodoxus spiniger from stray cats in Penang, Malaysia. Trop Biomed 29 (2), 301-303 PubMed.
• Amin O M , Omar M, Madbouly M H (1973) Distribution and seasonal dynamics of a tick, a louse fly, and a louse infesting dogs in the Nile Valley and Delta of Egypt. J Med Entomol 10 (3), 295- 298 PubMed.
• von Keler S (1971) A revision of the Australian Boopidae (Insecta: Phthiroptera), with notes on the Trimenoponidae. Australian Journal of  Zoology, Supplement 6, 311.
• Colless D H (1959) Heterodoxus spiniger (Mallophaga: Boopidae) from cats in Singapore. J Parasitol 45 (3), 248 ResearchGate.