These include regular dagging or clipping around the breeches and tail, which removes soiled wool and the resulting shorter wool is less likely to build up dung and urine and therefore be less attractive to flies. However, tail docking has serious welfare implications, and there are management options that can be utilised that reduce the risk of strike, without resorting to tail docking. Shorn sheep and young lambs with short fleeces are not usually attacked, but as the length of the fleece increases so does the risk of strike ( French et al., 1996).The area around the tail or the breech is the most commonly infested area ( Snoep et al., 2002 Broughan and Wall., 2007), although strike also importantly occurs over the withers, back and shoulders. Historically, tail length has also been considered a significant risk factor, and it has been reported that lambs that have not had their tails docked are at a much greater risk ( French et al., 1994). The struck area is usually soiled or damaged in some way to attract flies. Some breeds are more susceptible than others (see section below). There is some evidence to show ewes and ewe lambs are more susceptible than rams and male lambs ( Snoep et al., 2002). In lowland flocks, shearing is carried out earlier, and the first cases usually occur in July, often in lambs. In hill sheep, unshorn sheep are attacked in the early part of the season, with a second wave occurring in August and September. They indicate expected average patterns of strike incidence and may not therefore be appropriate for individual farmers whose husbandry practices differ substantially from the average ( Wall et al., 2002).
Climate models and forecasts may be used to provide farmers with advance warning, but they are very dependent on the accuracy of weather projections. Higher mean temperature and rainfall are risks factors ( Broughan and Wall., 2007) and attacks are associated with hot and humid weather. In the UK, the population of flies increases dramatically from late spring into mid-summer ( French et al., 1995). There are two main factors that affect the onset of fly strike ( Fenton et al., 1998):Ĭlimate is a critical risk factor and climate warming is likely to increase the risk of fly strike incidence ( Wall et al., 2011). The larvae are white or yellowish through their development and reach a maximum of 12–18 mm before pupation (from Influential Factors Secondary bacterial infection often occurs and the animal may die of septicaemia or the absorption of toxins from liquefied body proteins. Secondary flies such as Lucilia Caesar, Protophormia terraenovae (black blowfly), and Calliphora erythrocephala (bluebottle) are unable to initiate strike themselves but are attracted to the damage already done.
#Fly strike cats treatment skin
The larvae lacerate the skin using their anterior hooks and begin to digest tissue by secreting proteolytic enzymes. Primary flies ( Lucilia sericata (green bottles) lay eggs on soiled areas of fleece or wounds. There are several species of fly that can commonly parasitise sheep ( Morris and Titchener, 1997), and these can be characterised as primary and secondary flies. Blowfly strikes usually occur in waves, with the odour from the first strike attracting other flies. The females can lay over 1000 eggs, and under favourable conditions the life cycle may be completed in 7 days. These flies can also reproduce in the absence of living matter.
The condition is caused by the invasion of living tissue by the larvae of dipteran flies. Rapid diagnosis and treatment is essential. If untreated, strike will rapidly deteriorate causing an increased respiratory and heart rate, ammonia toxicity, coma and death. Affected animals are restless, dull and reluctant to graze, and kick at the struck area. Fly strike is usually visible as a discoloured, moist area of wool which, on closer examination, reveals maggots and is foul-smelling.
It is a costly disease of significant welfare concern ( Wall and Lovatt, 2015). It is common for 1-3% of sheep in a flock to be affected by fly strike ( Broughan and Wall, 2006). It is 10–14 mm long (from Blowfly strike, or myiasis, is an important cause of sheep loss in a number of countries across the world, and in particular in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa. The adult Lucilia sericata are usually a metallic green and can also have a copper green colour.
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