Molecular phylogenetics of lice collected from Indian goats and their neglected vector potential

Abstract Background Ectoparasitic infestations, particularly lice, are a major challenge to goat farming in India, leading to significant economic losses through reduced productivity and increased mortality. The most common lice species identified in goats are Bovicola caprae (biting louse) and Linognathus africanus (sucking louse), as determined by morphological keys. This study provides the first comprehensive molecular and morphological characterization of lice collected from Indian goats, shedding light on their potential as neglected vectors of disease. Results Lice were morphologically identified using established taxonomic keys, while molecular identification was carried out by amplifying a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, a standard marker for species-level identification in arthropods. Phylogenetic analysis of the COI sequences confirmed the identities of B. caprae (PQ602608) and L. africanus (PQ602609), both showing high similarity to previously documented Asian isolates in GenBank ( B. caprae —Accession No. (s) MF927687 and MZ817000, L. africanus —Accession No. OP948899). The molecular data also revealed novel insights into the genetic diversity of these lice species, showing close phylogenetic relationships with isolates from neighboring Asian countries, including China, Iran, and Pakistan. L. africanus has been found to harbor vector-borne pathogens such as Theileria spp . and Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp ., suggesting that it may be an underestimated vector . Conclusions This study provides critical insights into the genetic diversity and vector potential of lice in Indian goats, which could inform more effective control strategies and reduce the substantial economic losses caused by ectoparasitic infestations in goat farming.