Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Parasitic Lice in Tibetan Yaks, Pigs and Sheep
The infestation of ectoparasites poses a severe problem in animal breeding, severely affecting animal health and causing substantial economic losses. However, limited information is available regarding lice infestations in plateau livestock. To address this, we collected and examined lice samples fr...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Wanmei Luo Xialing Zhao Dengyun Wang Bin Shi Shah Nawaz Qingxia Wu Wenqiang Tang |
| author_facet | Wanmei Luo Xialing Zhao Dengyun Wang Bin Shi Shah Nawaz Qingxia Wu Wenqiang Tang |
| author_sort | Wanmei Luo |
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| description | The infestation of ectoparasites poses a severe problem in animal breeding, severely affecting animal health and causing substantial economic losses. However, limited information is available regarding lice infestations in plateau livestock. To address this, we collected and examined lice samples from Tibetan yaks, pigs and sheep, amplifying the <i>rrnS</i> and <i>cox1</i> genes for evolutionary analysis. The results revealed that the prevalence of lice was 51.3% (95% CI: 44.0–58.6%) in yaks, Tibetan sheep and Tibetan pigs, with regional prevalence ranging from 7.7% to 67.5%. Morphometric analysis showed that female lice were bigger than male lice. In Tibetan pigs, females exhibited a prominent longer body length (<i>p</i> < 0.05), belly length (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and body length to body width ratio (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In yaks, females had longer body length (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and body width (<i>p</i> < 0.05). For Tibetan sheep, female lice had larger body length (<i>p</i> < 0.001), body width (<i>p</i> < 0.001), head length (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and belly length (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Additionally, molecular identification revealed that lice infesting wild and domestic yaks were <i>Linognathus vituli</i> with 96.59–98.78% (wild yaks) and 96.33–98.71% (yaks) similarity to the OL677823.1 isolate. Lice infesting Tibetan sheep were identified as <i>Linognathus africanus</i>, showing 99.02–99.76% similarity to the OP948898.1 isolate. Lice from Tibetan pigs were identified as <i>Haematopinus apri</i>, with 96.38–98.31% similarity to the ON000922.1 isolate. Moreover, <i>cox1</i> gene analysis of lice from Tibetan pigs showed 96.97–97.72% similarity to the KC814616.1 isolate. It is concluded that these findings could provide valuable insights into the prevention and control of lice-related diseases in plateau animals, enhancing animal health and mitigating economic losses. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4409340507ea48fb81192faa1f404ff0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
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| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-4409340507ea48fb81192faa1f404ff02025-08-20T03:43:27ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-03-0115344410.3390/life15030444Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Parasitic Lice in Tibetan Yaks, Pigs and SheepWanmei Luo0Xialing Zhao1Dengyun Wang2Bin Shi3Shah Nawaz4Qingxia Wu5Wenqiang Tang6College of Animal Science, Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, ChinaTibet Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa 850009, ChinaNierong County Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Science and Technology Service Station, Naqu 853500, ChinaTibet Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa 850009, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430079, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, ChinaTibet Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa 850009, ChinaThe infestation of ectoparasites poses a severe problem in animal breeding, severely affecting animal health and causing substantial economic losses. However, limited information is available regarding lice infestations in plateau livestock. To address this, we collected and examined lice samples from Tibetan yaks, pigs and sheep, amplifying the <i>rrnS</i> and <i>cox1</i> genes for evolutionary analysis. The results revealed that the prevalence of lice was 51.3% (95% CI: 44.0–58.6%) in yaks, Tibetan sheep and Tibetan pigs, with regional prevalence ranging from 7.7% to 67.5%. Morphometric analysis showed that female lice were bigger than male lice. In Tibetan pigs, females exhibited a prominent longer body length (<i>p</i> < 0.05), belly length (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and body length to body width ratio (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In yaks, females had longer body length (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and body width (<i>p</i> < 0.05). For Tibetan sheep, female lice had larger body length (<i>p</i> < 0.001), body width (<i>p</i> < 0.001), head length (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and belly length (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Additionally, molecular identification revealed that lice infesting wild and domestic yaks were <i>Linognathus vituli</i> with 96.59–98.78% (wild yaks) and 96.33–98.71% (yaks) similarity to the OL677823.1 isolate. Lice infesting Tibetan sheep were identified as <i>Linognathus africanus</i>, showing 99.02–99.76% similarity to the OP948898.1 isolate. Lice from Tibetan pigs were identified as <i>Haematopinus apri</i>, with 96.38–98.31% similarity to the ON000922.1 isolate. Moreover, <i>cox1</i> gene analysis of lice from Tibetan pigs showed 96.97–97.72% similarity to the KC814616.1 isolate. It is concluded that these findings could provide valuable insights into the prevention and control of lice-related diseases in plateau animals, enhancing animal health and mitigating economic losses.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/3/444ectoparasiteslice infestationphylogenetic analysis<i>rrnS</i> gene<i>Haematopinus apri</i> |
| spellingShingle | Wanmei Luo Xialing Zhao Dengyun Wang Bin Shi Shah Nawaz Qingxia Wu Wenqiang Tang Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Parasitic Lice in Tibetan Yaks, Pigs and Sheep Life ectoparasites lice infestation phylogenetic analysis <i>rrnS</i> gene <i>Haematopinus apri</i> |
| title | Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Parasitic Lice in Tibetan Yaks, Pigs and Sheep |
| title_full | Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Parasitic Lice in Tibetan Yaks, Pigs and Sheep |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Parasitic Lice in Tibetan Yaks, Pigs and Sheep |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Parasitic Lice in Tibetan Yaks, Pigs and Sheep |
| title_short | Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Parasitic Lice in Tibetan Yaks, Pigs and Sheep |
| title_sort | prevalence and molecular characterization of parasitic lice in tibetan yaks pigs and sheep |
| topic | ectoparasites lice infestation phylogenetic analysis <i>rrnS</i> gene <i>Haematopinus apri</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/3/444 |
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