Mallophaga
Guides
Trichodectes canis
canine chewing louse, dog chewing louse
Trichodectes canis is a chewing louse (suborder Mallophaga) that parasitizes domestic dogs and wild canids worldwide. It is a permanent ectoparasite, completing its entire life cycle on the host. The species is a known intermediate host for the dog tapeworm Dipylidium caninum, which can be transmitted to canids (and rarely humans) through ingestion of infected lice. Infestations are generally uncommon in well-cared-for dogs in developed countries but can occur in neglected or immunocompromised animals. A 2023 study reported T. canis from domestic cats in Tehran, Iran, representing a new host record.