Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pediculosis is an infestation of warm-blooded animals, and it is an important economic problem for various livestock and poultry hosts. Lice are termed direct parasites because they produce skin imperfections at tanneries because of the irritation they create during feeding. The feeding process triggers irritation or itching in the skin, resulting in rubbing and scratching. AIM: The study isolated, described, and diagnosed two biting and sucking lice species in goats in Basrah City, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A total examination of 50 male and female goats was performed for lice collection and isolation from October 1, 2018 to April 1, 2019, noted. The lice were preserved in clean vials containing 70% ethyl alcohol. RESULTS: The study identified two groups of veterinary lice infesting goats: sucking lice in the order Anoplura and biting lice in the order Mallophaga. Haematopinus tuberculatus was observed (prevalence of 64%), Linognathus africanus (prevalence of 38%), and Bovicolaovis (prevalence of 24%). Notably, the overall infection rate with lice was 100%, and examples of mixed infections with greater than one lice species on individual animals were observed on the animals in localized areas of the body, such as the back, udder, and other regions. CONCLUSION: This study documents the first-ever report of a new species of sucking and chewing lice in Basrah City, indicating that both species share a common host.