Animal Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2022 Jun;31:100725. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100725. Epub 2022 Mar 25.
Blowfly strike or cutaneous myiasis, caused principally by the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina is endemic to Australian sheep producing areas and is a major cause of suffering and economic loss. This article reports incidence and control practices as determined by three cross-sectional surveys of Australian sheep farmers covering the years 2003 (n = 1365), 2011 (n = 575) and 2018 (n = 354) with more questions relating to blowfly strike in the latter two surveys. Breech strike was reported at a higher rate than body strike in all survey years. Reported annual incidence of breech strike ranged from 2.2 to 4.7% of sheep nationally with minor differences between ewes and lambs. The incidence of body strike ranged from 1.0 to 7.1% with higher incidence in younger sheep in all years. The use of fixed time routine preventative chemical treatments increased during the survey period (43%, 46% and 66%, in 2003, 2011 and 2018 respectively) with dicyclanil (54%-58%) and cyromazine (23-36%) the main insecticides used for control since 2011. The use of the Mules operation (mulesing) to remove skin wrinkles from the breech area as a preventative modification did not change between 2011 and 2018 (47% in both), however, the use of pain relief at mulesing of replacement ewe lambs increased substantially between 2011 (59%) and 2018 (87%). The most commonly used methods to assist with flystrike control were timing of crutching (clipping of wool from susceptible areas) and shearing, with few respondents destroying maggots from treated sheep (21-26%) and very low use of fly traps (5-8%). Phenotypic selection of ewes for reduced susceptibility to flystrike based on visual traits was practiced by 61% of respondents in 2011 and 56% in 2018. Selection of rams for reduced susceptibility using estimated breeding values increased from 10% in 2011 to 17% in 2018. Breeding for resistance was the most commonly nominated (21%) most important change made to flystrike management in 2018. The results indicate that concern for sheep welfare has increased with almost universal use of pain relief at mulesing. Increased use of selection for blowfly resistance indicates farmer commitment to planning for a future without mulesing, although the practice remains prevalent. An increase in the reliance on preventative chemical treatments increases the risk of insecticide resistance.
狂蝇蛆病或皮肤蝇蛆病，主要由澳大利亚绵羊狂蝇 Lucilia cuprina 引起，流行于澳大利亚绵羊产区，是造成绵羊痛苦和经济损失的主要原因。本文报告了通过对 2003 年（n=1365）、2011 年（n=575）和 2018 年（n=354）三次澳大利亚绵羊养殖户的横断面调查确定的发病率和控制措施，后两次调查中增加了更多与狂蝇蛆病相关的问题。在所有调查年份中，臀部叮咬的报告率均高于身体叮咬。全国范围内，臀部叮咬的年报告发病率为 2.2%至 4.7%，母羊和羔羊之间的差异较小。身体叮咬的发病率为 1.0%至 7.1%，所有年份中，幼羊的发病率均较高。在调查期间，定期使用固定时间进行预防性化学处理的比例有所增加（2003 年、2011 年和 2018 年分别为 43%、46%和 66%），自 2011 年以来，双氰胺（54%-58%）和环丙嗪（23-36%）一直是主要的杀虫剂。作为预防措施，对臀部区域去除皮肤褶皱的 Mules 操作（剪尾）并没有在 2011 年至 2018 年之间改变（均为 47%），然而，在对替代母羊羔羊进行剪尾时使用止痛剂的比例大幅增加，从 2011 年的 59%增加到 2018 年的 87%。帮助控制蝇蛆病最常用的方法是适时修剪（修剪易受感染的部位的羊毛）和剪毛，很少有受访者（21-26%）从接受治疗的绵羊身上清除蛆虫，使用蝇虫诱捕器的比例非常低（5-8%）。2011 年有 61%的受访者和 2018 年有 56%的受访者根据视觉特征对母羊进行了减少蝇蛆病易感性的表型选择。使用估计育种值对公羊进行减少易感性的选择，从 2011 年的 10%增加到 2018 年的 17%。在 2018 年，有 21%的受访者认为培育对蝇蛆病的抗性是最重要的改变措施。结果表明，随着剪尾时几乎普遍使用止痛剂，人们对绵羊福利的关注有所增加。越来越多的人使用选择来抵抗狂蝇，表明农民致力于为没有剪尾的未来做好规划，尽管这种做法仍然很普遍。对预防性化学处理的依赖增加了杀虫剂抗性的风险。
