- February 29, 2012 Volume 5, Issue 1 Veterinary Entomology
Insect Updates Special Interest Flies breeding with hay feeding Articles: High levels of stable flies that with manure, becomes an ideal - Use modified feeders, such as attack pastured cattle in the habitat for stable fly larvae. cone feeders, which have been • Control flies in calf spring and early summer will shown to reduce the amount of Broce stresses that housing most likely come from round wasted hay management practices this bale feeding sites. • Control disease- winter can help limit fly - Unroll round bales on pastures, carrying insects Alberto B. Broce, emeritus populations later. but not over the same site
professor and livestock - Spread out accumulated hay- • Restrictions on Suggested steps: entomologist at Kansas State manure medium to dry cephalosporins University, notes that cattle - Frequently move feeding tubs
feeding from round bales can to prevent the accumulation of - Encourage your neighbors to • Resistance blame use similar practices to keep fly game waste up to 50% of the hay, hay-manure medium over one and the wasted hay, mixed spot. populations in control around the area Control fly populations in calf housing Calf pens and hutches to reduce fly populations and starter to break the fly provide an ideal environment the stress they cause the calf. lifecycle. for flies. Flies not only - Start by cleaning up spilled - Use scatter baits when you spread disease to calves but feed and milk, eliminate see adult flies around calves. they also cause the calf standing water, clip grass, discomfort and stress, - Add the feed-through and store manure and soiled reducing feed intake and larvicide to your calf feed bedding away from the calf affecting the health and program 30 days before the fly facilities. growth of your calves. season starts. - Flies lay eggs in manure, Individual An integrated pest Get a fly control program in use feed-through larvicide in Highlights: management (IPM) plan is place before the flies arrive both milk replacer and calf the most cost-effective way this spring. Insect Updates 1 Cattle Care 2 New ways to control disease-carrying insects Disease/Health 3 Purdue researchers are receptors involved with feeding honey bees. They may also discovering the next generation which leads either to killing the have less impact on the Special Topics 4 of insecticides directed at insect or stopping it from environment than other disease-carrying insects like feeding, which is how insecticides. Journal Review 5 mosquitoes, ticks and tsetse pathogens and parasites are The next steps to develop the flies (found in Africa). These spread. genome-centric method are to insects are developing This approach focuses on expose other drugs through resistance to insecticides vector insects’ DNA, an in vivo assay to discover sprayed in the air or embedded insecticides created through insecticidal or larvicidal in bed nets. The increased this method may be safer for properties and identify novel resistance makes insecticides humans and non-targeted chemicals that affect the less effective. organisms like companion pets targeted receptor of disease- The researchers are targeting and non-vector insects like carrying insects.
Veterinary Entomology Page 2 of 6 Cattle fever ticks intercepted in Texas Custom officials report made by U.S. Customs and If just one fever tick is intercepting a “significant” Border Protection agents in discovered outside the number of cattle fever ticks on Laredo, TX. traditional border-wide quarantine zone in South a deer hide being transported The tick can cause Texas “Sidney Aki, reported the Texas, the consequences from Mexico. The Associated Cattle Fever, which results in find as the largest number Press reports that the would be costly for the nation’s slow growth, reduced largest cattle-producing state. of fever ticks found by discovery of 23 fever ticks was reproductive ability and death. agricultur e specialists this season.” Cattle Care Don’t waste your vaccine dollars
If you purchase vaccine for a some common sense things producers do a poor job of disease and inject it into your you can do to get the greatest achieving this. Vaccines animals you can rest assures possible benefit from your should be stored between 35 that you won’t have to worry investment in animal health and 45°F. Too warm about that disease. Right? products. temperatures can quickly Wrong! To start with no vaccine deactivate the vaccine, but Proper vaccine management is 100% effective at providing too cold is even worse. immunity to all animals it is starts at the purchase. If you administered to. order online, purchase on It is a good idea to purchase Monday. If you purchase local, a small, modern and efficient Further, your techniques for take a cooler with you or apartment-sized refrigerator
purchasing, storage and use of request one from the retailer. in a convenient place for vaccines can diminish their vaccine storage only. Discard Most realize vaccines should be effectiveness tremendously. all vaccines that have been kept in a cool, dark place but Although you can’t expect frozen, opened or partially research shows many perfect protection, there are used, and expired. Livestock
Veterinary Entomology FDA places some restrictions on the use of cephalosporins can now be found on the Starting April 5 FDA placed cephalosporins for those veterinarians to use their social media network - restrictions on the use of health conditions that have discretion and professional facebook . antibiotics known as labeled approvals. For disease training when it comes to cephalosporins in livestock conditions not on the label, improving the health and they can use cephalosporins Like the page to find out due to concern that the drugs well-being of animals. were being used beyond as long as they utilize - Widespread debate still more. what the label specifies. approved dosages, exists whether antibiotic use frequencies, durations and The new rules are: routes of administration. in livestock contributes to bacterial resistance that - Dairy veterinarians can - It continues to allow threatens humans. continue to use approved Anaphylactic reactions are a true emergency
After giving enough injections over time, to difficulty breathing. Other signs Certain breeds of cattle and genetic many have run across an anaphylactic include muscle tremors, anxiety, lines have higher reported incidences reaction. These events can be scary but salivation, bloat, nasal discharge, of anaphylaxis. Animals should be one needs to be sure to act fast because vocalization, edema, diarrhea and monitored for 24 hrs, especially these are true emergencies. dilation of blood vessels. The blood pregnant animals. Anaphylaxis is a type of hypersensitivity vessel dilation drops blood pressure and this with breathing difficulty can lead to Always walk back through the group disease where an immune response goes after giving injections. Work in the cool death. uncontrolled and is not self-limited. These part of the day, more reactions are reactions are seen shortly after injections Epinephrine is the drug of choice to seen in hot weather. are given. counter the reaction. Be sure to carry it in your vaccine and treatment cooler. Anaphylactic reactions occur when The degree to which an animal is affected least expected, so it is best to be can vary from swelling of the injection site Replace expired bottles even if unused or not opened. prepared and act fast.
Human & Animal Disease & Health
Researchers unravel challenges of drug-resistant bacteria For years, medical Researcher Wang says Antibiotic-resistant bacteria professionals and the livestock resistance come from antibiotic “have been found not only in industry have made great usage but more so of various food products and efforts not to overuse commensal bacteria (otherwise environmental samples but antibiotics, but drug-resistant harmless bacteria) than also in hosts without a “The human and animal gut is microorganisms continue to pathogenic bacteria (which history of direct exposure to like an incubator for these thrive. cause diseases). antibiotics.” resistant bacteria” Resistance blame game – Humans first? but the majority of resistance profiles Livestock have been repeatedly implicated the proportion of transmission that that are common to both human and as the source of antimicrobial resistance, occurs in each direction. animal populations were identified first but new research from Scotland shows Three conclusions: in humans. that, at least in the case of Salmonella 1. While a number of DT104 Typhimurium DT104, resistance profiles 3. The origins of resistance profiles phenotypes are common to both animal are often showing up in humans before can be estimated. When a putative and human populations, there are a animals. source population can be identified for significant number of phenotypes that each profile, and for each isolate, It is reported that transmission is likely to are unique to each population. significantly more of these putative occur in both directions, animal-to-human 2. For resistance to individual precursors were identified in the human and human-to-animal, the critical issue is antimicrobials, there is no clear pattern, population. Trichomoniasis cases continue to rise in Arkansas A total of 97 cases of Trichomoniasis diminished calf crop in cattle, which is time before it is suspected and were reported in Arkansas during 2011. very costly to producers. diagnosed. Most bulls, once infected, This number has steadily increased will stay infected for life. Trich is transmitted from an infected bull since new regulations went into effect to the cow’s reproductive tract during Currently, there is no approved last year. The regulations indicate that breeding. Infected cows will experience treatment for breeding bulls in the any breeding bull changing ownership infertility and early embryonic death, US, therefore, infected bulls must be in AR must be accompanied by a causing the cow to return to estrus (heat) condemned to slaughter. The negative test for trichomoniasis, similar and subsequently leading to poor majority of infected cows will clear to the regulations in TX. pregnancy rates and an extended the infection if given 120 to 150 days Trich is a venereal disease of cattle breeding season. of sexual rest. caused by the protozoa organism Infected bulls show very little outward Tritrichomonas foetus. The disease signs of illness, allowing Trich to be Beyonce gets leads to infertility, poor pregnancy rates, present for a considerable amount of ‘bootylicious’ horse fly an extended breeding season and a named after her A newly discovered horse 38 people confirmed sick from drinking raw milk fly in Australia was so Heath authorities are still Pennsylvania Department of Chambersburg Pa. ‘bootylicious’ with its assessing the number of Health reported the number Among the confirmed cases, golden-haired bum, there people sickened from drinking had reached 38. More could was only one name worthy most of the people live in raw milk from a Pennsylvania be possible. of its beauty: Beyonce. Pennsylvania, while a few live dairy outlet. The agencies have focused in Maryland, West Virginia, The fly was caught in On Friday, February 3rd, the their attention on raw milk sold and New Jersey. 1981, the same year at The Family Cow in Beyonce was born and its founder named it Season for Q Fever Scaptia (Plinthina) Q fever is a rickettsial infection to humans as calving, lambing effect on the fetus including beyonceae to pay cause by Coxiella burnetii and kidding season prematurity, low birth weight, respect to the insect’s bacterium. It is widespread approaches. or abortion. globally among livestock and beauty. Pregnant women, can be at The CDC says most people domestic ruminants, and risk for inhaling or ingesting who get sick start having sheep, cattle and goats are the the bacterium through dust or symptoms two or three most frequent source of human birthing fluids and tissues weeks after getting C. infection. such as the placenta. Acute Q burnetii, although symptoms Veterinarians should be aware fever during human pregnancy can start sooner. of Q fever and its transmission may result in an adverse
Veterinary Entomology Page 4 of 6
Special Topics of Interest Cut bedding cost now, pay later It’s tempting to make a load of sand or curb, cow lying time was reduced by 2 Reduced amounts of bedding and/or sawdust last a week or two longer and you hrs / day. replacing bedding less often leads to cows standing for longer periods of time. may get away with it for a while but the When bedding is wet, cows spend 5 hrs long-term effects can be expensive. less lying down and more time perching Unwanted outcomes of increased standing are hoof lesions and lameness. Research shows that when stalls were with only two feet in the stalls. bedded with sand that was 2” below the
Group housing insights method to be used. Feeding more milk Raising calves is arguably one of the labor associated with raising calves; in reduces competition and improves most challenging and labor intensive addition to benefits such as increased efficiency of automated feeders. Take jobs on the farm. milk consumption, socialization and exercise. into account design and management Recent studies indicate that group of the housing system. All-in, all-out housing may be an option to reduce Smaller groups are easier to manage: management of groups aims to reduce less than 10 calves. Decide the feeding the risk of disease. Shrinking US cattle herd smallest in 60 years A devastating drought, record feed Analysts polled by Reuters expect the stretched through nearly all of last year, costs and intensifying competition with data to show the US cattle herd at 91.26 has been a primary driver in ranchers case crops for land are accelerating a 5 million head, the smallest since 1952 and liquidating their herds. It also has them year decline in the US cattle herd, down from 92.58 million a year earlier. selling their calves to auction barns and feedlots soon after being weaned off which is forecast to be the smallest in The drought in the southern Plains that six decades as of Jan 1. milk. More men at the market women. Another sexual barrier is breaking It is expected that this shift toward down, new data shows that men are Data shows there has been an increase more men pushing grocery carts could increasingly taking on the task of from 14% to 31% from 1985 to 2011 of be positive for the beef industry. Most grocery shopping – not in my house but men doing the grocery shopping. Another men like meat and meat-based meals. I guess this occurs somewhere. study that polled 1000 fathers shows that 51% men are primary grocery shoppers To fully capitalize on this trend, Even in this day in age where most marketers need to adjust some of their gender-based barriers have and 60% claim to make their family’s food decisions. In my house I can’t even get messages and strategies and store disappeared, the supermarket has layout. remained primarily the domain of input on what to make more less get my husband to shop by himself. Night milk shows promise as aid for insomniacs Forget a nightcap – the answer for “Melatonin plays a key role in helping when taken by a study group insomnia may soon be available in a humans regulate day-night cycles, and comprising patients with insomnia,” glass of milk. by selectively collecting milk produced Causer said. by cows during the night we can create A Chinese-controlled milk powder In the study, participants would be a 100% natural sleep aid,” Causer said. manufacturer may soon be giving asked to drink a glass of Night Milk 30 those suffering from sleeping disorders Currently dairy farmers get up at 4 am minutes before going to bed. Sleep a natural sleep aid. Synlait Milk to milk their herds but they would need quality will then be monitored against collects milk from cows during the to start a few hours earlier. Suppliers results for people who consume night for melatonin, a sleep-promoting would be paid a premium for their early- conventional milk. hormone. By expressing melatonin in morning milking. The market for Night Milk in Asia and the milk, the product, Synlait Night Milk, can aid those suffering from “Having determined the feasibility of Europe will target working sleep disorders. production, and that the change of professionals, the elderly and routine has little effect on the behavior international travelers. Simon Causer, Synlait Milk research of the cows, the next step in the process manager, points that melatonin is a will involve carrying out a clinical trial to key ingredient in the Night Milk. demonstrate efficacy of the product
Journal Reviews Economic impact of stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) on dairy and beef cattle production. 2012. Taylor et al. J Med Entomol. 49: 198-209. The stable fly is among the most production in the US. Additional research on the effects of damaging arthropod pests of cattle Four different industry sectors were taken stable flies on high-production dairy cows worldwide. The last time the economic into consideration: dairy, cow-calf and nursing beef calves is needed to impact of stable flies on United States production, pastured stockers, and increase the reliability of the estimates. cattle production was published was 20 feeder cattle. years ago and placed at a loss of $608 The Impact. This is a very impacting million. It is estimated that the national losses article that is way overdue from the from stable flies $360 million for dairy economic standpoint. This data is a The authors analyzed published studies cattle, $358 million for cow-calf herds, major resource for all cattle owners and and developed a yield-loss related to $1,268 million for pastured cattle, and Extension personnel that deal with cattle stable fly infestation levels to cattle $226 million for cattle on feed, for a total owners and researchers looking to control productivity, and then they estimated the impact to US cattle industries of $2,211 stable fly infestations. economic impact of stable flies on cattle million per year. Population dynamics of stable flies Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae) at an organic dairy farm in Denmark based on mark-recapture with destructive sub-sampling. 2012. Skovgard & Nachman. Environ Entomol. 41: 20-29. The researchers of this paper collected in the growth rate as a function of 50.36°F and above 92.3°F. stable flies from organic dairies for two current temperature, precipitation, and The Impact. This data backs the consecutive years with sweep nets population size. knowledge that stable flies have a and marking. The peak of stable fly populations temperature preference for development. Using a statistical model, they were occurred at 71.24°F and development It might also add in stable fly able to explain 86.6% of the variation was not found at temperatures below management. Enterococcus faecalis OG1RF:pMV158 survives and proliferates in the house fly digestive tract. 2012. Doud & Zurek. J Med Entomol. 49: 150-155. The presence of fluorescing E. faecalis and 4 hr after ingestion; in the labelum Both drinking water and feed sampled was traced through the mouth parts, counts were low 24 hrs after ingestion were contaminated by fluorescing E. foregut, midgut and hindgut of house but increased with time. In the foregut faecalis. bacteria peaked at 48 hrs and remained flies. The Impact. This data supports the high for 96 hrs. In the hindgut levels notion that house flies can act as a E. faecalis was found in the midgut 1 hr remained low. carrier of bacteria. A behavioral method for separation of house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) larvae from processed pig manure. 2012. Cickova et al. J Econ Entomol. 105: 62-66. A house fly larval separation method The escaping larvae were collected in The Impact. This paper shows an that is based on placing a cover over collection trays. Trays were held in the easier way to separate larvae being the larval rearing trays, was looked at. dark and the larvae would pupate reared in a laboratory and helps within 48 hours after separation. facilitate experiments. Sampling flies or sampling flaws? Experimental design and inference strength in forensic entomology. 2012. Michaud et al. J Med Entomol. 49: 1-10.
Forensic entomology is an inferential reviewed do not meet the standards for methodological solutions for increasing science because postmortem internal inference, which are 1) adequate inference strength that can inform estimates are based on the replications, 2) independence of future casework. extrapolation of results obtained in experimental units, and 3) The Impact. Technically, this does not field or laboratory settings. experimental conditions that capture affect the livestock/veterinary representative range of natural Although enormous gains in scientific community, but it is a publication in the variability. understanding and methodological same category. This publication points practice have been made in forensic The authors of this publication out ways to improve research entomology over the last few decades, identified the design flaws in field and experiments for forensic entomology a majority of the field studies we lab experiments and suggested studies.
Veterinary Entomology Page 6 of 6 Sonja L. Swiger, PhD Plant terpenoids: Acute toxicities and effects on flight motor activity and wing beat Assist. Professor frequency in the blow fly Phaenicia sericata. 2012. Waliwitiya et al. J Econ Entomol. 105: 72- Livestock Extension 84. Entomologist The researchers evaluated the and α-terpineol applied Eugenol, pulegone and acute toxicities and the topically produced neurotoxic citronellal readily penetrate blow 1229 North US Hwy 281 physiological effects of plant symptoms but less toxic than fly cuticle and interfere with Stephenville, TX 76401 monoterpenoids (eugenol, Malathion, dieldrin, or flight muscle and/or central
CELL: pulegone, citronellal and α- RH3421. nervous function. terpineol) and neuroactive (239) 220-0168 Wing beating was blocked The Impact. The tested plant insecticides (Malathion, permanently within 6-7 min of monoterpenoids show great PHONE: dieldrin and RH3421) on flight administering pulegone or potential for controlling flies and (254) 968-4144 muscle impulses and wing citronellal and within 16 mins are less toxic to the beat signals of the blow fly, environment than Malathion, E-MAIL: Phaenicia sericata. with eugenol, α-terpineol- [email protected] treated flies could not beat dieldrin and RH3421. Eugenol, pulegone, citronellal their wings despite normal flight muscle impulses.
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