How can the presence of lice in piglets be detected? - briefly
Detection relies on thorough visual inspection of the skin and coat for live lice or nits, often aided by fine-toothed combing and microscopic examination of collected material. Confirmation may be achieved through PCR analysis of hair samples to identify lice DNA.
How can the presence of lice in piglets be detected? - in detail
Detecting lice infestations in newborn swine requires a systematic approach that combines visual inspection, sampling techniques, and laboratory analysis.
A thorough physical examination is the first step. Inspect the skin, especially the neck, back, and ventral areas, for live insects, nymphs, or eggs (nits). Use a bright light and a magnifying lens to improve visibility. Look for signs of irritation, such as erythema, hair loss, or crusted lesions, which often accompany heavy infestations.
If visual cues are ambiguous, collect specimens for microscopic confirmation. Gently brush a fine-toothed comb or a soft brush over the coat, then transfer the material onto a white sheet of paper. Examine the sample under a stereomicroscope at 10–40× magnification to identify characteristic morphological features: elongated body, six legs, and specific segmentation patterns of the species common to piglets (e.g., Haematopinus suis).
When a definitive species identification is required, preserve a subset of the collected lice in 70 % ethanol. Submit the vials to a veterinary parasitology laboratory for taxonomic confirmation using dichotomous keys or molecular methods such as PCR amplification of the COI gene.
For herd-level monitoring, employ a structured sampling protocol. Randomly select 10 % of the litter or at least three piglets per pen, depending on herd size. Record the number of lice per animal and calculate the prevalence (infested animals ÷ total examined) and intensity (average lice count per infested animal). These metrics guide treatment decisions and evaluate control program efficacy.
Environmental assessment complements animal-based detection. Sample bedding, wall crevices, and feeding troughs with sticky traps or vacuum aspirators. Analyze trap contents for adult lice or nymphs to identify residual infestation sources.
In summary, reliable detection combines:
- Direct visual inspection of skin and coat.
- Mechanical collection with combs or brushes.
- Microscopic examination for morphological confirmation.
- Laboratory preservation and species-level identification.
- Systematic herd sampling to quantify prevalence and intensity.
- Environmental surveillance using traps.
Implementing each component ensures early recognition of infestations, informs timely therapeutic interventions, and supports ongoing biosecurity measures.