Ectoparasites of Cattle

KEY POINTS

• Most of the approximately 1.49 billion head of cattle worldwide are susceptible to infestation with ectoparasites, several of which are also vectors of bovine pathogens.
• Diseases listed by the World Organization for Animal Health include some caused directly by ectoparasites and by ectoparasite-borne pathogens affecting cattle.
• Some ectoparasites of cattle are of One Health importance because they can be invasive and of high socioeconomic consequence, and several zoonotic ectoparasite-borne pathogens can affect public health.
• Arthropods, mainly insects, mites, and ticks, represent the most economically important group of cattle ectoparasites because of the direct effect associated with heavy infestations on health and food production.
• Integrated approaches are required to manage cattle ectoparasites in a sustainable manner