Differentiating Swine Lice and Ticks

Lice and  ticks can be confusing if not clearly differentiated because all are external parasites . Below are some ways you can tell the difference. Swine Lice or Hog Lice are relatively large external blood sucking parasites. 

 Swine Lice

A lice infestation causes itchy discomfort for the pigs. Infected pigs will rub against their surroundings trying to relieve the itch. If left untreated they will rub their hair off and create sores. Lice are vectors for disease such as swine pox.

Lice can be treated and prevented with ivomec, brand name Ivermectin. This is the same medication, at the same dose, that is used to treat and prevent mites. Pigs get lice from other pigs. Swine lice are species specific and cannot live on any other animals or humans.

Lice are identified by their size, body shape, movement, and the sticky eggs left in the pig’s hairs. They are the largest blood sucking louse found on domestic animals, much larger than the lice found in human hair.

Distinctive features:

Lice are Grayish brown ,Measure around 1/4 inch long, visible to the naked eye,Elongated, segmented, soft body w/ oblong head, 6 legs and 2 antennae ,Does not engorge or swell,Runs fast through the hairs, Leaves sticky eggs attached to hair follicles. It causes extreme itching and hair loss and transmits infections and diseases to pigs

Ticks

Ticks are soft bodied blood sucking arachnids. They are found in all environments outside, feasting on mammals, birds, and humans.  

Ticks should be removed promptly if found attached to your pig. Prevention  is through environmental management.  Make your sty unappealing to ticks, and/or use tick repellent products or natural homemade recipes to keep ticks off your pigs. 

Distinctive features:

It varied colors/patterns, usually black or brown, teardrop shape body, small compact head, 8 legs and no antenna, dramatic changes through life cycle, starts flattened and gorges to the size of a swollen raisin, abdomen is not segmented, 1 mm to up to 3/4 inch in size.

It crawls  slowly until they attach firmly to the pig’s skin, stays attached until engorged, does not cause itching, transmits infections and diseases to pigs.