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<p><i>Trichodectes canis</i> is a chewing louse considered highly specific to domestic and wild canids. Here, we report the first record of <i>T. canis</i> infesting a domestic cat (<i>Felis catus</i>) in Central America. In April 2025, an adult male cat from a rural community near Juigalpa, Chontales Department of Nicaragua, was brought to a veterinary clinic in critical condition, showing marked lethargy and anorexia. During clinical inspection, multiple chewing lice were observed on the animal’s coat. Six specimens (five nymphs and one female) were manually collected and taxonomically identified as <i>T. canis</i> based on diagnostic morphological characters. The cat died a few minutes after admission. The statement of the owner as to the absence of dogs in the household and the recovery of multiple live specimens suggest a possible establishment of the lice on the feline host, rather than a momentary contamination. This finding represents a new host record for <i>T. canis</i> in the Neotropical region and expands knowledge on the distribution and host range of this species.</p>

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First Record of the Chewing Louse Trichodectes canis (Psocodea: Trichodectidae) on the Domestic Cat (Felis catus) in Central America

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月21日

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  • Juan J. Oporta-López,
  • Adriana Troyo

摘要

Trichodectes canis is a chewing louse considered highly specific to domestic and wild canids. Here, we report the first record of T. canis infesting a domestic cat (Felis catus) in Central America. In April 2025, an adult male cat from a rural community near Juigalpa, Chontales Department of Nicaragua, was brought to a veterinary clinic in critical condition, showing marked lethargy and anorexia. During clinical inspection, multiple chewing lice were observed on the animal’s coat. Six specimens (five nymphs and one female) were manually collected and taxonomically identified as T. canis based on diagnostic morphological characters. The cat died a few minutes after admission. The statement of the owner as to the absence of dogs in the household and the recovery of multiple live specimens suggest a possible establishment of the lice on the feline host, rather than a momentary contamination. This finding represents a new host record for T. canis in the Neotropical region and expands knowledge on the distribution and host range of this species.