- Pediculosis is an infestation of lice
- Infestation is called pediculosis
- May cause anaemia (sucking lice), weakness, discomfort and damage to hair or wool
- More common in low temperatures when hair is longer
- Host-specific
- Spread by direct contact
- Most lesions are due to self-inflicted trauma
- Grossly:
- Papules, crusts, secondary excoriations
- Eggs and lice visible in lesions
Control
- Few insecticides will kill lice eggs on the animal
- Two treatments are needed to kill nymphs emerging from eggs at the time of the initial treatment and those that will emerge 2-3 weeks later
- At two week intervals
- Or a product with a two week residual activity can be used
- Sucking lice are more susceptible to systemic insecticide treatment than chewing lice
- Resistance to insecticides may become a problem so alternating the chemicals used and avoiding pour on treatments (which have a greater risk of resistance developing) should be considered