Difference between revisions of "Melophagus ovinus"

Revision as of 22:34, 8 April 2010

Also known as:

Sheep Ked

Found worldwide

Bites sheep and goats
- A separate species is found on deer

Recognition

4-6mm long

Hairy

Forward pointing proboscis

Short head

Reddish brown colouring

Dorso-ventrally flattened

'Tick-like' in appearance

Wingless

Strong legs and claws

Life cycle

Whole life cycle spent on the host
- Adults may survive for 1 week off the host

Single larvae laid on fleece which pupate

Adult keds emerge a few weeks to a few months after pupating depending on environmental temperature

Pathogenesis

Most numerous in autumn and winter

Located in the superficial layers of the fleece
- This aids transmission

Long wooled breeds are most susceptible to infection

Cause anaemia

Wool damage
- Irritation and self-inflicted damage
- Staining by ked faeces

Intermediate host for non-pathogenic Trypanosoma melophagium in sheep

Control

Sheep dipping and spraying

Shearing to decrease numbers

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{OpenPagesTop}}
-{{Taxobox
-|name               =Melophagus spp
-|kingdom            =Animalia
-|phylum             =[[:Category:Arthropods|Arthropoda]]
-|class              =[[Insecta]]
-|sub-class          =
-|order              =Diptera
-|super-family       =
-|family             =[[Hippoboscidae]]
-|sub-family         =
-|genus              =Melophagus
-|species            ='''''M. ovinus'''''
-}}
-Also known as: '''''Sheep Ked - Louse Fly'''''
-== Introduction==
+{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"
+| Also known as:
+| '''Sheep Ked
+|-
+|}
-Melophagus ovis is a wingless fly, also known as the sheep ked or 'louse fly', which parasitises the skin of sheep. It is similar to a louse as its' whole life cycle occurs on the host.
+*Found worldwide
-Melophagus is the intermediate host for the non-pathogenic ''Trypanosoma melophagium'' in sheep.
+*Bites sheep and goats
+**A separate species is found on deer
-The fly often lives on sheep without any clinical signs, but in severe infestations, clinical signs will ensue. The disease manifests most commonly in autumn and winter. The parasite is found in the superficial layers of the fleece and this aids transmission to other sheep by direct contact. Long wooled breeds are most susceptible to infection.
+'''Recognition'''
+*4-6mm long
-==Identification==
+*Hairy
-The adults are hairy, brown and around 6mm in length, and of the family [[Hippoboscidae]].  They have an segmented abdomen, and are wingless.  ''M. ovinus'' has blood sucking mouthparts, and claws on the ends of the legs, designed to hold on to the host.  They are dorso-ventrally flattened.
+*Forward pointing proboscis
-==Life Cycle==
+*Short head
-They are permanent ectoparasites, feeding on the host. The female fly produce a single larvae at a time, and the larvae are held back until they are ready to pupate. The larvae undergo three larval stages before becoming fully developed. Pupation of the larvae occurs, and they are clearly seen on the fleeces of the sheep. These then later emerge as adults.
+*Reddish brown colouring
-== Clinical signs ==
+*Dorso-ventrally flattened
-The sheep may appear generally off colour. There will be noticeable wool damage and this will be due to self-trauma through itching. The fleece will also appear stained by the faeces of the sheep ked. On physical examination, anaemia may also be noted if the parasite burden is big enough.
+*'Tick-like' in appearance
+*'''Wingless'''
-== Diagnosis ==
+*Strong legs and claws
-By clinical signs and detection of the parasite on the sheep. Microscopic examination will determine the presence on ''Melophagus''.
+'''Life cycle'''
+*Whole life cycle spent '''on''' the host
+**Adults may survive for 1 week off the host
-== Treatment and Control ==
+*Single larvae laid on fleece which pupate
-Treatment upon clinical signs and diagnosis, with a suitable ectoparasiticide.
+*Adult keds emerge a '''few weeks to a few months''' after pupating depending on environmental temperature
-Control measures include sheep dipping and spraying and shearing to decrease numbervsof the ked.
+'''Pathogenesis'''
+*Most numerous in '''autumn and winter'''
-{{Learning
+*Located in the superficial layers of the fleece
-|literature search = [http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=title%3A%28%22Melophagus+ovinus%22%29+OR+title%3A%28%22Sheep+Ked%22%29 ''Melophagus'' publications]
+**This aids transmission
-}}
+*Long wooled breeds are most susceptible to infection
-{{review}}
+*Cause anaemia
-{{OpenPages}}
+*Wool damage
+**Irritation and self-inflicted damage
+**Staining by ked faeces
+*Intermediate host for non-pathogenic ''Trypanosoma melophagium'' in sheep
+'''Control'''
+*Sheep dipping and spraying
+*Shearing to decrease numbers
 [[Category:Hippoboscidae]]
-[[Category:Dermatological Diseases - Sheep]]
-[[Category:Integumentary System - Parasitic Infections]]
-[[Category:Expert Review - Farm Animal]]

Difference between revisions of "Melophagus ovinus"

Revision as of 22:34, 8 April 2010

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