Difference between revisions of "Melophagus ovinus"

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=Melophagus ovinus=
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{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"  
 
| Also known as:
 
| Also known as:
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*Found worldwide
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{{Taxobox
 
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|name              =Melophagus spp
*Bites sheep and goats
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|kingdom            =Animalia
**A separate species is found on deer
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|phylum            =Arthropoda
 
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|class              =Insecta
 
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|sub-class          =
'''Recognition'''
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|order              =Diptera
*4-6mm long
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|super-family      =
 
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|family            =Hippoboscidae
*Hairy
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|sub-family        =
 
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|genus              =Melophagus
*Forward pointing proboscis
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|species            ='''''M. ovinus'''''
 
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}}
*Short head
 
 
 
*Reddish brown colouring
 
 
 
*Dorso-ventrally flattened
 
 
 
*'Tick-like' in appearance
 
 
 
*'''Wingless'''
 
 
 
*Strong legs and claws
 
 
 
  
'''Life cycle'''
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==Hosts==
*Whole life cycle spent '''on''' the host
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Sheep.
**Adults may survive for 1 week off the host
 
  
*Single larvae laid on fleece which pupate
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==Identification==
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The adults are hairy, brown and around 6mm in length.  They have an segemented 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.
  
*Adult keds emerge a '''few weeks to a few months''' after pupating depending on environmental temperature
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==Life Cycle==
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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 then 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.
  
  

Revision as of 09:07, 28 July 2010

Melophagus ovinus

Also known as: Sheep Ked
Melophagus spp
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Diptera
Family Hippoboscidae
Genus Melophagus
Species M. ovinus

Hosts

Sheep.

Identification

The adults are hairy, brown and around 6mm in length. They have an segemented 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.

Life Cycle

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 then 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.


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