Epidemiology of ovine oestrosis ( Œstrus ovis Linné 1761, Diptera: Oestridæ) in Sicily

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology Vol. 92; no. 3; pp. 233 - 237
• Main Authors: Caracappa, S, Rilli, S, Zanghi, P, Di Marco, V, Dorchies, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.10.2000
• Subjects: Animals; Diptera; Italy; Larva - chemistry; Myiasis - epidemiology; Myiasis - veterinary; Oestridae; Oestrus ovis; Prevalence; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - epidemiology; Sheep-arthropoda; Sicily; Sicily - epidemiology; Sicily; Oestrus ovis; Sicily; Sheep-arthropoda; Prevalence
• ISSN: 0304-4017; 1873-2550
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-4017(00)00317-4

A survey for œstrosis was carried out in the slaughterhouse at Messine (Sicily) from May 1996 to April 1998. The heads of sheep from local flocks were collected each month. A total of 841 heads were examined according to a validated procedure. 469 (55.8%) were infested by Œstrus ovis larvæ. 4423 larvæ were harvested: 1829 first instar larvæ or L1 (41.4%), 1286 second instar larvæ or L2 (29.1%) and 1308 third instar larvæ or L3 (29.6%). The mean larval burden for infected sheep was 9.4 larvæ with an average of 3.9 L1, 2.7 L2 and 2.8 L3. No period of hypobiosis was recorded. The proportions of larvæ in each of the different larval stages was similar from January to September, however, from October to December the percentage of L1 was higher, indicating a period of slowed development. In order to lower the overall prevalence of this disease, it would be necessary to use a parasiticide effective against O. ovis, for all routine parasite control treatments.