Morphobiological studies on lice infecting buffaloes

Buffaloes in Egypt have been investigated for liceinfection. A survey was carried out during one yearstrating from December 1983 till November 1984. Indead,612 buffaloes were examined where 552 cases were foundinfected wi th only Haematopinus tuberculatus(9Q~.2 %) •The rate of animal infection was observed to have amean percentage of (97.6 %) during spring, (77.4 %) inthe peak in April while in September it reached 60.4 %.Moreover, the sequence was observed to be 95.91 % , 3.27 %and 0.82 % for the light, moderat e and severe conditions.The morphological characters of the adult nymph andeggs of the collected type were identified in detailsduring the various seasons of the study •’l’he mean legth and width of females were 5.14 .:t. 0.84and 2.75 + 0.22 mm , while that of males were 3.71.:t. 0.32and 1.85 + 0.17 mm, respectively_ The rectangular thoracicsternal plate had two anterolateral processes. Six cap-shapedparatergites with eight posterior setae, existed as well asthe spear-shaped of the posterior sclerotic plate.In addition the life cycle of Haematopinus tuberculatuswas studied on rabbits and each experiment was repeatedfour times 1ndicatin~ that the preoviposition period was2 - 3 days and the oviposition period lasted for 12 days-