ABSTRACT
Hypodermosis in red deer, Cervus elaphus Linnaeus (Artilodactyla: Cervidae), caused by the warble fly, Hypoderma actaeon Latreille (Diptera: Oestridae), was studied at Quintos de Mora (Toledo, Spain) over a one-year period between October 1994 and September 1995. One hundred and twenty-five red deer were examined for the presence of warble fly larvae. The prevalence of warbles was 44.8% and the intensity of infection was 38.29 (SD +/- 61.32) warbles/deer infected. Clear seasonal variations were observed in prevalence and intensity, with the highest values in the autumn and winter. Statistically significant differences were observed in prevalence and intensity among age groups. In contrast, no differences were found in prevalence and intensity between males and females.
Subject(s)
Deer/parasitology , Diptera/growth & development , Hypodermyiasis/veterinary , Age Factors , Animals , Female , Hypodermyiasis/epidemiology , Hypodermyiasis/parasitology , Male , Prevalence , Seasons , Sex Factors , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Scanning electron microscope study of third-instar larvae of four species of Hypoderma revealed differences among species in the pattern of spination, spine morphology and morphology of the spiracular plates. These observations identify characters that enable the differentiation of Hypoderma actaeon and H. diana, parasitizing red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Europe, and provide additional characters for differentiating H. bovis and H. lineatum parasitizing cattle.
