A pilot study on the prevalence of lice in Irish beef cattle and the first Irish report of deltamethrin tolerance in Bovicola bovis

Background Pediculosis in cattle causes significant itching, irritation and stress to the animal, often resulting in skin damage and poor coat condition. The control of bovine pediculosis in Ireland is based predominantly on commercial insecticides belonging to one of two chemical classes, the synthetic pyrethroids and the macrocyclic lactones. In recent years, pyrethroid tolerance has been reported in a number of species of livestock lice in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Results In this pilot survey, lice were detected in 16 (94%) out of 17 herds visited. Two species of lice, Bovicola bovis and Linognathus vituli were identified. In vitro contact bioassays showed evidence of deltamethrin tolerance in Bovicola bovis collected from 4 farms. This was confirmed by repeatedly assessing louse infestations on treated animals on one farm.

Conclusions To our knowledge this is the first record of insecticide tolerant populations of lice in Irish cattle. The results also provide new data on the species of lice infesting beef cattle in Ireland and the prevalence and control of louse infestations in Irish beef cattle herds.