Lice of animal origin on people

Lice are generally host-specific, and while the species from domestic and free-ranging animals and birds might stray on to animals other than their normal hosts, or on to people, they usually do not cause any problems or establish on these accidental hosts.

Public health overview

Lice are generally host-specific, and while the species from domestic and free-ranging animals and birds might stray on to animals other than their normal hosts, or on to people, they usually do not cause any problems or establish on these accidental hosts.  The human pubic louse, Phthirus pubis (crabs or, in French, papillons d amour - butterflies of love), is occasionally recovered from dogs and cats, and such discoveries must be handled very diplomatically by the veterinarian involved!