Difference between revisions of "Oestridae"

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(Created page with 'thumb|right|150px|Warble Fly - Geo. H. Carpenter, Cambridge University Press 1913 - Wikimedia Commons *The larvae of ''Oestridae spp.'' are '''obligato…')
 
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**''Gasterophilus''
 
**''Gasterophilus''
  
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'''[[Hypoderma spp.|''Hypoderma spp.'']]
  
===''Hypoderma spp.''===
 
 
*Also known as warble flies
 
 
*Important cattle parasites
 
**Also parasitise horses, small ruminants and sometimes humans
 
 
*The two main species in cattle are
 
**''H. bovis''
 
**''H. lineatum''
 
 
*''H. diana'' parasitises deer
 
 
*Infestation is largely confined to the Northern Hemisphere
 
 
 
'''Recognition'''
 
*Large 13-15mm long
 
 
*Similar to bumble bees in appearance
 
**Yellow abdomen
 
**Band of black hairs
 
 
*1 pair of wings
 
 
 
'''Life cycle'''
 
*Adult flies emerge on warm, sunny days between '''June and August'''
 
 
*White eggs are laid around the belly and legs of the animal
 
**Eggs are attached to hairs by cement and a small terminal clasp
 
**''H. lineatum'' lays a whole row of eggs as it approaches the animal stealthily
 
**''H. bovis'' only deposits a single egg before the animal runs away ('''gadding''') as it makes a loud buzzing noise
 
 
*The adult lives for 3 weeks
 
 
*Females can lay several hundred eggs in their life
 
 
*A few days after eggs are laid, larvae emerge and crawl down the hairs into the hair follicles
 
 
*Larvae penetrate the skin through wounds made by [[Biting Flies|biting flies]]
 
 
*Larvae migrate through the subcutaneous tissue towards the diaphragm
 
**Enzymatic secretions and mouth hooks aid larval migration
 
 
*After 3 months larvae reach '''winter resting sites''' where they remain from November to February/March whilst moulting to the L2 stage. These sites are different between the 2 species
 
**Epidural fat in the spinal canal for ''H. bovis''
 
**Wall of the [[Oesophagus - Anatomy & Physiology|oesophagus]] for ''H. lineatum''
 
 
*Larvae then migrate back to the subcutis along the midline of the back where they bore a breathing hole through the skin and moult to the L3 stage
 
**Larvae are palpable as distinct swellings called '''warbles'''
 
 
*L3 larvae emerge after 4-10 weeks where they fall to the ground and pupate under loose vegetation
 
 
*Adult flies emerge from the pupa after 1 month where they copulate, lay eggs and die within 2 weeks
 
 
*''H. lineatum'' are on the wing 6-8 weeks before ''H. bovis''
 
 
*There is only '''1 generation''' of warble flies per year
 
 
 
'''Pathogenesis'''
 
*Causes [[Muscles Inflammatory - Pathology#Arthropods|myositis]]
 
 
*Production losses
 
**Condemnation and down-grading of hides
 
**Reduced milk yield and reduced weight gain
 
**Injury from stock panic
 
**Trimmed meat losses from ''H. lineatum''
 
***'Butcher's Jelly' around warbles which is green due to mass [[Eosinophils - WikiBlood|eosinophil]] attraction
 
 
*Paraplegia resulting from
 
**Toxin release
 
**Pressure on the spinal cord (''H. bovis'')
 
**Bloat from pressure on the [[Oesophagus - Anatomy & Physiology|oesophageal wall]] (''H. lineatum'')
 
 
 
'''Control'''
 
*Total eradication should be aimed for
 
 
*Old methods include popping out warbles
 
**But this could lead to anaphylactic shock
 
 
*[[Ectoparasiticides]]
 
**Systemic organophosphorus [[Ectoparasiticides|insecticides]] in pour-on formula
 
**Avermectins and milbemycins in pour-on and injectible formulations
 
 
*Timing is crucial for treatment
 
**Larvae residing in winter resting sites, if killed, can lead to bloat and paraplegia
 
**It is safe to treat in the '''autumn''' before larvae reach their winter resting sites and in the '''spring''' when the warbles have migrated to the midline of the back
 
**Ivermectin can be given at any time without risking host infection as larval antigen is released much slower
 
 
 
'''Legislation in the UK'''
 
*'Warble Fly Order 1978' requires all clinically affected animals to be treated
 
 
*Notifiable disease
 
 
*'Warble Fly Infected Area Order 1983'
 
 
*For more information on the warble fly orders, see [http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/brucellosis/surveillance.htm| here]
 
  
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===''Oestrus ovis''===
 
===''Oestrus ovis''===
  

Revision as of 16:04, 29 March 2010

Warble Fly - Geo. H. Carpenter, Cambridge University Press 1913 - Wikimedia Commons
  • The larvae of Oestridae spp. are obligatory parasites
  • The three important species of veterinary interest
    • Hypoderma
    • Oestrus
    • Gasterophilus

Hypoderma spp.


Oestrus ovis

  • Also known as the sheep nasal bot fly
  • Larvae parasitise the nasal chambers of sheep and goats
  • Found in most sheep rearing areas of the world


Recognition

  • 13-15mm long
  • Grey colouring
  • Black spots on abdomen
  • Clear wings
  • Larvae have distinct black bands on each body segment


Life cycle

  • Larvae are squirted into the nostrils of sheep in a jet of liquid by the adult fly
  • The larvae crawl caudally into the nasal cavity and feed on the nasal mucosa and mature before returning to the nostrils
  • Larval development takes up to 2 months
    • Larvae can overwinter in the nasal cavity if deposited late in the summer
  • Once the larvae have developed they are sneezed out and pupate on the ground
  • The adult fly emerges 1 months later
  • Adult flies only live for 2-3 weeks


Pathogenesis

  • Adult flies cause annoyance
    • Interrupts feeding
    • Leads to a decreased weight gain
  • Larvae cause nasal irritation, nasal discharge and sneezing
    • Irritate the nasal mucosa with oral hooks and spines causing a viscous exudate to be produced from which they feed
    • Heavy infestations lead to erosion of the bones in the sinuses (turbinate bones)
    • Penetration of the brain leads to false gid (high stepping gait and incoordination)


Control

  • In warmer countries, strategic prophylactic treatment can be used


Gasterophilus spp.

Horse Bot Fly - Dennis Ray - Wikimedia Commons
  • Also known as the horse bot fly
  • Obligate parasites of equids
  • Spend most of life cycle in the equine stomach
    • Of little pathogenic significance
  • Three important species (in the UK)
    • G. intestinalis which is the most common
    • G. nasalis
    • G. haemorrhoidalis which is rare
  • Two other important veterinary species
    • G. nigricornis
    • G. inermis


Recognition

  • Medium to large flies at 10-20mm long
  • Look similar to drone bumble bees
    • Body covered with dense yellow hair
    • Dark coloured hairs produce a banding pattern
  • Clear wings with brown patches


Life cycle

  • Adults are most active in late summer
  • Eggs are laid on the body and hatch spontaneously or are stimulated to hatch through an increase in warmth and moisture from the animal self-grooming. They are laid in different areas according to species
    • G. intestinalis eggs are laid in the hair of the shoulders and fore legs
    • G. nasalis eggs are laid in the intermandibular area
    • G. haemorrhoidalis eggs are laid around the lips
  • Creamy-white eggs
  • 1-2mm in length
  • Larvae crawl into the mouth and penetrate the tissues of the tongue and buccal mucosa
  • Larvae then emerge after a couple of weeks and are swallowed
  • Larvae pass into the stomach and attach to the gastric mucosa
    • Larvae are now known as bots
  • Each species attaches to a specific part of the stomach
    • G. intestinalis attaches to the cardiac region
    • G. nasalis attaches to the pylorus
  • After 10-12 months in the stomach, the larvae detach and are passed out in the faeces
    • G. haemorrhoidalis attaches to the rectal mucosa before being passed out
  • Larvae pupate on the ground
  • Adults hatch after 1-2 months and survive from a few days to 2 weeks
    • Adults have non-functional mouthparts so cannot feed
  • There is only 1 generation per year in temperate regions of the world


Pathogenesis

  • Adults cause annoyance when egg laying
    • Disturbance and panic can ensue
  • Larvae cause a marked inflammatory reaction when attached to the gastric mucosa
    • Ring like thickening around the base of each attached larvae
  • Large numbers of larvae may interfere with the passage of food and action of gastric sphincters
  • G. haemorrhoidalis can cause mild irritation to the rectal wall
  • Host reaction to larvae in the mouth is minimal


Control

  • Treatment of horses with insecticides over winter
    • Breaks the life cycle as all the population are present as bots in the stomach
  • If eggs are present in late summer, the horse's coat can be sponged with an insecticide
    • Stimulates hatching
    • Kills larvae