On whom do lice inhabit? - briefly
Lice are obligate ectoparasites that live only on the bodies of warm‑blooded vertebrates. In humans they infest the scalp, body, or pubic area, whereas other species parasitize birds, rodents, livestock, and various mammals.
On whom do lice inhabit? - in detail
Lice are obligate ectoparasites that survive exclusively on the bodies of vertebrates. Their taxonomic groups include three main families: Pediculidae, Pthiridae, and Haematomyzidae, each associated with distinct host categories.
Mammalian hosts range from humans and other primates to rodents, carnivores, and ungulates. Human‑specific species comprise the head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) and the body louse (Pediculus humanus corporis). Rodent lice, such as Polyplax serrata, infest rats and mice, while Trichodectes canis parasitizes domestic dogs and wild canids. Ungulate lice, for example Linognathus setosus, are found on cattle and sheep.
Avian hosts include domestic poultry and wild birds. The chicken louse (Menacanthus stramineus) lives on the feathers and skin of Gallus gallus domesticus, whereas Brueelia spp. infest passerine birds. Bird lice attach to feather shafts and skin folds, completing their life cycle without leaving the host.
Host specificity varies among species. Many lice are monoxenous, completing development on a single host species. Others are oligoxenous, exploiting a limited group of closely related hosts. Polyxenous lice are rare but include some species that parasitize multiple bird families.
Selection of a host depends on factors such as hair or feather structure, grooming behavior, social interaction patterns, and environmental temperature. Lice attach their claws to hair shafts or feather barbs, avoiding areas where host preening is most intense.
The life cycle consists of three nymphal instars and the adult stage. Eggs, called nits, are cemented to hair or feathers and hatch within 5–10 days. Nymphs molt three times over 2–3 weeks before reaching reproductive maturity. All stages remain on the host, receiving nutrition directly from blood or skin debris.
Transmission occurs through direct contact between hosts or via fomites such as bedding, clothing, or nesting material. Control measures focus on mechanical removal of nits, topical insecticides, and environmental sanitation to eliminate residual eggs and larvae.