| Pecaroecus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pecaroecus javalii head structure | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Psocodea |
| Suborder: | Troctomorpha |
| Infraorder: | Phthiraptera |
| Parvorder: | Anoplura |
| Family: | Pecaroecidae Kéler, 1963 |
| Genus: | Pecaroecus Babcock & Ewing, 1938 |
| Species: | P. javalii |
| Binomial name | |
| Pecaroecus javalii Babcock & Ewing, 1938 | |
Pecaroecus javalii, the giant sucking louse[1] or peccary louse,[2] is a species of sucking louse. It is the only species in the genus Pecaroecus and family Pecaroecidae.[3][4] This species was first discovered in 1932 by Babcock and Ewing on a one-month-old javelina in west Texas.[5]
Systematics
Taxonomy
Pecaroecus javalii belongs to the suborder Anoplura and the family Pecaroecidae.[6] Pecaroecus was initially placed in the Haematopinidae family according to the “Ferris” system in 1952 but was later reclassified to the Pecaroecidae family by Kim and Ludwin in 1978 due to differences in many characteristics, including the structure of genitalia.[7] The closest related species is Microthoracius fahrenholz, which is from the Microthoraciidae family, which also infects artiodactyls as well as camelids.[6][5]
Evolution
Pecaroecus javalii may have important implications for the understanding of the evolution of sucking lice. The Pecaroecus genus is one of the most basic and generalized genera that parasitize Ferungulata.[8] Some researchers have suggested that Pecaroecus javalii may be very similar to the ancestral form of many sucking lice.[8] Evidence suggests that both Haematopinus and Pecaroecus arose from a common ancestor.[8] Pecaroecus javalii have very basic, primitive features such as eyes and male genitalia that are not fused.[2] Interestingly, it appears Pecaroecus javalii evolved to be able to grasp the coarse hair of Tayassuidae.[2]
Prevalence
Little research has been conducted on the prevalence of Pecaroecus javalii in the environment. However, the few studies that have been done reported a very high prevalence in the populations studied, between 86 and 88% prevalence.[2][1][9] Interestingly, male javelina seemed to host significantly more lice than the females studied.[2]
Anatomy
Head
The head is characteristically slender, long, and generally the posterior portion is wider than the anterior portion.[5] The antennas are composed of 5 segments. Segment 1 (the proximal-most segment) is much broader than the others.[5] Segment 5 (the distal-most segment) is reduced and smaller than the rest of the antennae segments.[5] The antennae are roughly four times the length of the clypeus plate[10] They have ocular lenses with developed corneas that are prominent on the sides of the head.[5][10]
Thorax
The thorax is relatively small, however, it is longer than it is wide. Pecaroecus javalii lack a sternal plate on their thorax, instead, they possess a notal pit as well as a pair of apophyseal pits.[10] They possess spiracles on the dorsal aspect of their thorax.[5]
Abdomen
The abdomen is composed of 8 segments, each of which has a single row of dorsal setae.[5] Overall, the abdomen is slender and long, similar to the head, and is bilaterally lobed.[5] Spiracles are present on segments 3 and 8.[5] The body has 6 tuberculiform paratergites.[10]
Legs
The legs of Pecaroecus javalii are long and semicircular. Leg I has a large characteristic tibial thumb that is used to grasp the hair of the host. Legs II and III possess large, toothed claws.[5]
Nymph
The nymph appears like a miniature version of the adult louse and develops and molts on the host.[2] Small spines have been observed in a specific region at the proximal end of the abdomen.[8]
Adult male
The male louse has a reported average length of 6.3mm and width of 1.4mm. The male is distinct from the female by possessing parameres that are laterally enlarged, an undeveloped sub genital plate, and a v-shaped pseudo-penis.[5][10]
Adult female
The female louse has a reported average length of 6.9mm and width of 1.45mm. The female is distinct from the male by possessing a developed trapezoid sub genital plate and pronounced bi-lobed 8th body segment.[5][10]
Epidemiology
The epidemiology of Pecaroecus javalii is not well known. Most specimens have been collected from the shoulders, eyes, and forequarters of javalina.[5][9][2] It is believed the lice concentrate in these areas due to the javalina hair being thicker in these areas.[2] The lice are spread between individuals through direct contact with an infected individual or contact with shared bedding.[2] Direct contact also occurring during birth and lactation, so transmission from a mother to her young is possible.[2]
Geographical distribution
Source:[1]
Pecaroecus javalii have been identified on collared peccaries in multiple places in the southeastern United States. These locations include the Davis Mountains (Texas),[2] Trans-Pecos region (Texas),[9] Catron county (New Mexico), Grant county (New Mexico), Luna county (New Mexico), Hidalgo county (New Mexico),[9] and Pima county (Arizona).[11]
References
- 1 2 3 SAMUEL, WILLIAM M.; LOW, WILLIAM A. (1970-01-01). "Parasites of the Collared Peccary from Texas1". Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 6 (1): 16–23. doi:10.7589/0090-3558-6.1.16. ISSN 0090-3558. PMID 16509125.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Kubala, Kody (August 2012). "Ectoparasite diversity and Rickettsia testing of ecoparasites on feral swine (Sus scrofa) and collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) in the Davis Mountains of Texas". Sul Ross State University ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. ProQuest 1125415630.
- ↑ Hopkins, H.; Johnson, K.P.; Smith, V.S. (eds.). "Pecaroecus Babcock & Ewing, 1938". Psocodea Species File. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ↑ Hopkins, H.; Johnson, K.P.; Smith, V.S. (eds.). "Pecaroecidae Kéler, 1963". Psocodea Species File. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "A new genus and species of Anoplura from peccary" (PDF). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 40 (7): 197–201. October 1938 – via Phthiraptera.
- 1 2 "The Sucking Lice (Insecta, Anoplura) of the World: A Taxonomic Checklist with Records of Mammalian Hosts and Geographic Distributions" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 218. January 19, 1994 – via Phthiraptera.
- 1 2 Kim, K.C.; Ludwig, H.W. (1978). "The family classification of the Anoplura". Systematic Entomology. 3 (3): 249–284. Bibcode:1978SysEn...3..249K. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.1978.tb00120.x – via Internet Archive.
- 1 2 3 4 WEBB, J. E. (1949). "The evolution and host-relationships of the sucking lice of the Ferungulata". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 119 (1): 133–188. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1949.tb00873.x. ISSN 0370-2774.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Samson, KAY S.; Donaldson, Byron R. (October 1968). "PARASITES of the JAVELINA in NEW MEXICO". Bulletin of the Wildlife Disease Association. 4 (4): 131. doi:10.7589/0090-3558-4.4.131. PMID 5693836 – via BioOne Complete.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kim, Ke Chung; Pratt, Harry D.; Stojanovich, Chester J. (1986). The sucking lice of North America: an ill. manual for identification. University Park: Pennsylvania State Univ. Pr. ISBN 978-0-271-00395-5.
- ↑ Meleney, William P. (1975). "Arthropod Parasites of the Collared Peccary, Tayassu tajacu (Artiodactyla: Tayassuidae), from New Mexico". The Journal of Parasitology. 61 (3): 530–534. doi:10.2307/3279337. ISSN 0022-3395. JSTOR 3279337.