Difference between revisions of "Calliphoridae"

Revision as of 19:55, 30 March 2010

Pollenia rudis (Calliphoridae) - Richard Bartz, Munich - Wikimedia Commons

Lucilia cuprina - Wikimedia Commons

Blowfly Head Close Up - Martin Pot - Wikimedia Commons

The Calliphoridae family are facultative parasites

Cause blowfly strike

If the fly lays eggs on an animal, the animal is said to be blown

The damage the larvae cause to the animal is known as strike

Worldwide distribution

Affects sheep mostly
- Rabbits can also be affected

Species of veterinary importance in Europe

Lucilia sericata; Greenbottle

Phormia terra-novae; Blackbottle

Calliphora erythrocephala; Bluebottle

Calliphora vomitoria; Bluebottle

Species of veterinary importance in the Tropics

Lucilia cuprina; South Africa and Australia

Chrysomya spp.; Africa, Asia and Australia

Wohlfahrtia; Fleshfly

Recognition of Adults

Medium sized flies under 10mm long

Metallic sheen to abdomen
- Colour depends on species

Clear wings

Recognition of Larvae

Smooth maggots

10-15mm long

Spiracles and stigmatic plates on the tail can be used for species differentiation

Life cycle

Eggs laid in wounds, soiled fleece and on carrion
- Females attracted by the odour emitted
- Clusters of yellow-cream eggs laid

Larvae hatch 24 hours later and crawl down onto the skin
- Feed rapidly
- Grow rapidly
- Moult twice before becoming full maggots
- Process takes 1-2 weeks

Larvae fall to the ground to pupate

Adult emerges in under 1 week (during summer)

The female reaches sexual maturity after a protein meal
- Lays eggs in batches of 100-200

Adult flies survive for 1 month

Four generations can develop between May and September
- In warmer climates, up to 9 or 10 generations can develop per year

Flies can survive the winter as pupae and emerge the next spring

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 *The ''Calliphoridae'' family are '''facultative''' parasites
-*Cause '''blowfly strike'''
+*Cause <big>[[Blowfly Strike|'''blowfly strike''']]
 *If the fly lays eggs on an animal, the animal is said to be '''blown'''
@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
-'''Epidemiology'''
+[[Category:Parasites]][[Category:Flies]][[Category:Myiasis_Producing_Flies]]
-<br>Blowflies are divided into categories depending on their ability to initiate strike
-*Primary flies are capable of initiating a strike on living sheep. Larvae can penetrate intact skin
-**''Lucilia''
-**''Phormia''
-**''Calliphora spp.''
-*Secondary flies cannot initiate a strike. Larvae attack an area already struck or damaged, extending it
-**''Calliphora spp.''
-**''Chrysomya spp.'' (in warmer climates)
-*Tertiary flies attack lesions on carcasses which have become dry
-**''Musca''
-**''Sarcophaga spp.''
-Predisposing factors to flystrike
-*Temperature
-**Temperature in the spring will determine when the overwintering larvae hatch
-**High temperature and humidity will create a microclimate in the fleece, attracting adult flies to lay eggs
-*Rainfall
-**Persistent rainfall will make the fleece microclimate attractive to adult flies. Females lay eggs after the rain ceases
-**Breeds with long, fine wool are the most susceptible
-*Host susceptibility
-**This is increased when putrefactive odours develop on the fleece due to bacterial decomposition of organic matter following soiling with urine or faeces
-**Merino sheep have a narrow breech area with excessive wrinkling making them more susceptible to soiling
-**A narrow opening of the penile sheath in rams and wethers may result in accumulation of urine and increase blowfly strike in this area
-**Cuts during shearing, fighting and barbed wire will also increase the incidence of blowfly strike
-Blowfly season
-*Temperate regions in '''June to September'''
-**Mostly in unshorn sheep in June
-**Lambs from July to September
-*Warmer regions have a more prolonged season due to greater number of blowfly generations
-'''Pathogenesis'''
-*Severe skin damage
-**Larvae lacerate skin with oral hooks and liquefy host tissue by secreting proteolytic enzymes
-*Skin lesions are extended and deepened
-**Secondary blowfly attack
-**Flies attracted to odour of decomposing tissue
-*Secondary bacterial infection
-*Production losses
-**Irritation and distress associated with skin lesions
-**Poor weight gain (often the first clinical sign)
-*Risk of strike is highest in warm, moist weather
-'''Clinical signs'''
-*Anorexia
-*Listlessness
-*Animals standing apart from flock
-*Fleece may appear darker, be damp and have a foul smell
-'''Control'''
-*Prophylactic [[Ectoparasiticides|insecticide]] treatment
-**Must kill larvae and remain in fleece to prevent flies from laying eggs
-**Applied by spraying, dipping, spray race or jetting
-*Insect growth regulators
-**Pour-on
-**2-4 month protection depending upon the product used
-*Effective worm control
-**To minimise diarrhoea and therefore soiled fleece
-*Crutching to prevent soiling
-*'Mule's operation'
-**Surgical removal of breech skin in Merino breeds
-*Tail docking of lambs
-*Proper carcass disposal
-**Eliminates fly breeding sites
-*Vaccination
-**Experimental use against ''Luculia cuprina'' in Australia[[Category:Parasites]][[Category:Flies]][[Category:Myiasis_Producing_Flies]]

Difference between revisions of "Calliphoridae"

Revision as of 19:55, 30 March 2010

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