Cattle herd inspections and fly trapping for the detection of the Old World screw-worm fly (Chrysomya bezziana).

OBJECTIVES: To compare the sensitivity of inspections of cattle herds and adult fly trapping for detection of the Old World screw-worm fly (OWS). PROCEDURES: The incidence of myiases on animals and the number of OWS trapped with LuciTrap®/Bezzilure were measured concurrently on cattle farms on Sumba Island (Indonesia) and in peninsular Malaysia (two separate periods for the latter). The numbers of animal inspections and traps required to achieve OWS detection at the prevalent fly densities were calculated. RESULTS: On Sumba Island, with low-density OWS populations, the sensitivity of herd inspections and of trapping for OWS detection was 0.30 and 0.85, respectively. For 95% confidence of detecting OWS, either 45 inspections of 74 animals or trapping with 5 sets of 4 LuciTraps for 14 days are required. In Malaysia, at higher OWS density, herd inspections of 600 animals (twice weekly, period 1) or 1600 animals (weekly, period 2) always detected myiases (sensitivity = 1), while trapping had sensitivities of 0.89 and 0.64 during periods 1 and 2, respectively. For OWS detection with 95% confidence, fewer than 600 and 1600 animals or 2 and 6 LuciTraps are required in periods 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Inspections of cattle herds and trapping with LuciTrap and Bezzilure can detect OWS populations. As a preliminary guide for OWS detection in Australia, the numbers of animals and traps derived from the Sumba Island trial should be used because the prevailing conditions better match those of northern Australia.

Field assessment of synthetic attractants and traps for the Old World screw-worm fly, Chrysomya bezziana.

The performance of newly developed trapping systems for the Old World screw-worm fly, Chrysomya bezziana has been determined in field trials on cattle farms in Malaysia. The efficacy of non-sticky traps and new attractants to trap C. bezziana and non-target flies was compared with the standard sticky trap and Swormlure. The optimal trap was a modified LuciTrap(®) with a new attractant mixture, Bezzilure-2. The LuciTrap/Bezzilure-2 caught on average 3.1 times more C. bezziana than the sticky trap with Swormlure (P<0.05) and provided selectivity for C. bezziana against Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya rufifacies with factors of 5.9 and 6.4, respectively. The LuciTrap also discriminates with factors of 90 and 3.6 against Hemipyrellia sp. and sarcophagid flesh flies respectively, compared to the sticky trap. The LuciTrap/Bezzilure-2 system is recommended for screwworm fly surveillance as it is more attractive and selective towards C. bezziana and provides flies of better quality for identification than the sticky trap.

Control of horn fly (Diptera: Muscidae) in Florida with an Australian trap.

A newly developed Haematobia spp. trap is described, and results are presented from field trials to reduce populations of adult horn fly, Haematobia irritans L., on 5 dairy farms in western Florida and Alabama during the summer of 1992. We compared fly infestations on milkers subjected to trapping, versus either dry cattle on the same farm or milkers on a nearby farm, without the trap but where traditional horn fly control practices were used. Results gave 96.9% (95% CI, 93.8-98.4) reduction compared with dry cattle with a mean count of 228 per animal, and 90.2% (84.5-94.5%) compared with milkers on the control farms with a mean count of 113. Trapping removed the need to use insecticides to control this pest on milking dairy cattle and so offers a practical, environmentally acceptable, safe, and sustainable means of horn fly control on cattle which pass through the trap regularly.

The efficacy of diazinon impregnated ear tags against buffalo fly and resulting weight gains and diazinon residues in meat and milk.

Ear tags impregnated with 20% diazinon were evaluated for their efficacy against the buffalo fly (Haematobia irritans exigua) on beef cattle in southern Queensland. Buffalo fly numbers and weight changes were recorded and diazinon residues in tissues of beef cattle and milk from lactating dairy cattle were assayed at different time intervals after tagging. In 2-efficacy trials conducted over 19 and 20 weeks, the mean numbers of buffalo fly on cattle each fitted with ear tags were 1 to 9 and 0 to 16, respectively, in trials 1 and 2, compared with 44 to 345 and 26 to 306 per head on untreated herds, respectively, despite regular spraying of the untreated herd in trial 1 with cypermethrin to reduce fly burdens. Percentage buffalo fly control was 96.7 to 99.5% and 89.3 to 100% in the 2 trials. Cattle fitted with ear tags gained an average of 94 kg body weight after 5 months compared with 61 kg in the untreated herd, a net increase of 60% in treated animals compared with 28% in the untreated herd. Mean diazinon residue concentrations in the fat of perianal tissue biopsies were 0.02 to 0.03 mg/kg 1 to 8 weeks after tagging. Mean diazinon residue concentrations in the butterfat of milk from lactating dairy cattle were 0.01 to 0.04 mg/kg after tagging.

Dispersal of the Old World screw-worm fly Chrysomya bezziana.

Dispersal of the Old World screw-worm fly, Chrysomya bezziana Villeneuve, was studied in Papua New Guinea by releasing radio-isotope labelled, laboratory-reared flies and collecting their labelled egg masses from sentinel cattle. A log-linear model was developed to describe recapture rate. Distance was found to dominate the model and was represented by a bilinear ('broken-stick') term as log-distance. Further terms in the model such as attractiveness of the site (estimated from the number of non-labelled egg masses), the season of the year and a time trend were statistically significant but of minor importance. From the model, the median distance females dispersed before depositing an egg mass was 10.8 km. The maximum distance from the release site that egg masses were recovered was 100 km. The dispersal ability of C. bezziana is discussed in terms of its impact on the prospects of eradicating this species using SIRM if an outbreak occurred in Australia.

The efficacy of insecticides against the screw-worm fly (Chrysomya bezziana).

A number of insecticides used for ectoparasite control in the livestock industry were screened for their efficacy against larvae of the screw-worm fly, Chrysomya bezziana, using in vivo and laboratory tests. Proprietary screw-worm fly treatments (after exposure to outdoor conditions for up to 10 days) were also tested against eggs and adults of C bezziana. Three of these were also evaluated on naturally acquired screw-worm infestations. Residual protection was generally of short duration. Among the organophosphorus compounds, the most effective formulations contained relatively high concentrations (3 to 4% al) of coumaphos, 2.5% fenchlorphos or low concentrations (0.05 to 0.5% al) of diazinon, chlorfenvinphos and fenthion methyl. Two chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides containing 3% lindane and 5% dieldrin were very effective but are now prohibited for use in Australia. Preparations had serious deficiencies when used under field conditions, especially for treating large, deepseated myiases for which systemic insecticides are recommended. A comparison of methods demonstrated that a laboratory test could supersede live animal experimentation, at least for the initial screening of potential insecticides.

The efficacy of ivermectin against larvae of the screw-worm fly (Chrysomya bezziana).

An in vitro technique for screening systemic insecticides against larvae of the screw-worm fly, Chrysomya bezziana is described. Susceptibilities of screw-worm larvae of different ages to ivermectin (MK-933) were determined. Based on 24 h larval mortality, the LD50 of 1-,2-,3-,4- and 5-day larvae was 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.2 and 0.4 ppm of ivermectin. LD50 based on adult emergence following treatment of 4- and 5-day larvae was 0.02 and 0.05 ppm. The LD99.9 for 4-day larvae based on 24 h larval mortality and adult emergence was 11.0 and 0.15 ppm respectively and for 5-day larvae, was 44.3 and 0.4 ppm respectively. Pen and field trials with cattle infested with screw-worm fly demonstrated the potential of ivermectin as a systemic insecticide. Dosages of 50, 100 and 200 micrograms/kg, of ivermectin administered subcutaneously to experimentally infested cattle gave complete control for 6, 12 and 14 days respectively. Ivermectin at 200 micrograms/kg caused 100% mortality of screw-worm larvae up to 2 days old at the time of treatment with 70, 64 and 21% mortality of 3-, 4- and 5-day old larvae at the time of treatment. The residual protection from a single dose of 200 micrograms/kg was 16 to 20 days. When bull calves were treated with ivermectin at a dose of 200 micrograms/kg at the time of castration and branding, none of the 77 treated animals sustained a screw-worm strike in the scrotal area compared with 47 strikes (44%) in the 106 control cattle.

The efficacy of some acaricides against screw-worm fly larvae.

Thirteen acaricides used for control of cattle tick in Queensland were evaluated for their potential in the chemical control of the screw-worm fly, Chrysomya bezziana. Laboratory evaluations and in vivo tests using artificially infested cattle were made in Papua New Guinea. Most of the acaricides caused some mortality of screw-worm larvae in infested cattle and in laboratory tests. Acaricides of the organophosphorous, carbamate and organophosphorous/synthetic pyrethroid groups showed reasonable activity against screw-worm fly, but the amidines were less effective.