Detection and distribution of Stephanofilaria sp. in buffalo flies and buffalo fly lesions in north Australian beef cattle
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Detection and distribution of Stephanofilaria sp. in buffalo flies and buffalo fly lesions in north Australian beef cattle. / Naseem, Muhammad Noman; Raza, Ali; Fordyce, Geoffry; McGowan, Michael; Constantinoiu, Constantin; Turni, Conny; Allavena, Rachel; Tabor, Ala E; James, Peter.
I: Veterinary Parasitology, Bind 305, 2022, s. 109715.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Detection and distribution of Stephanofilaria sp. in buffalo flies and buffalo fly lesions in north Australian beef cattle
AU - Naseem, Muhammad Noman
AU - Raza, Ali
AU - Fordyce, Geoffry
AU - McGowan, Michael
AU - Constantinoiu, Constantin
AU - Turni, Conny
AU - Allavena, Rachel
AU - Tabor, Ala E
AU - James, Peter
N1 - Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Buffalo flies (Haematobia irritans exigua) are ectoparasites of major animal health and production concern in north Australian beef herds. Skin lesions associated with buffalo fly infestation, cause hide damage and welfare issues and are manifested as dermatitis or ulcerated areas found most commonly near the medial canthus of the eye, along the lateral and ventral neck and on the abdomen. Buffalo flies can transmit a nematode, Stephanofilaria sp., which has been considered the main aetiological agent for buffalo fly lesions, but the role of nematodes in the development of the lesions has not been defined. To investigate the geographical distribution of Stephanofilaria, swabs were taken from the surface of lesions and buffalo flies were netted from the backs of beef cattle from 20 properties located in northern, central and southern Queensland. Swabs and buffalo flies were then tested for the presence of Stephanofilaria by qPCR. In northern and central Queensland, all properties except one, tested positive for the presence of Stephanofilaria in either buffalo flies or swabs, or in both. The infection rate varied amongst sites ranging from 0% to 100% in lesions and 0-34% in female buffalo flies. No nematodes were found in male buffalo flies. In contrast, none of the 66 lesion swabs or 1220 buffalo flies collected from southern Queensland tested positive for Stephanofilaria infection despite the frequent occurrence of lesions in the herds from which samples were collected. These findings suggest that infection with Stephanofilaria, although frequently detected, is not essential for the development of buffalo fly lesions and other factors may contribute to the initiation of lesions. This study also confirmed the potential for using surface swabs as a quicker and less invasive means of sampling lesions than dermal biopsies when testing for the presence of Stephanofilaria by qPCR, but further studies will be required to estimate the sensitivity of this technique. Understanding the pathogenesis of buffalo fly lesions will aid the development of optimal treatment and control strategies.
AB - Buffalo flies (Haematobia irritans exigua) are ectoparasites of major animal health and production concern in north Australian beef herds. Skin lesions associated with buffalo fly infestation, cause hide damage and welfare issues and are manifested as dermatitis or ulcerated areas found most commonly near the medial canthus of the eye, along the lateral and ventral neck and on the abdomen. Buffalo flies can transmit a nematode, Stephanofilaria sp., which has been considered the main aetiological agent for buffalo fly lesions, but the role of nematodes in the development of the lesions has not been defined. To investigate the geographical distribution of Stephanofilaria, swabs were taken from the surface of lesions and buffalo flies were netted from the backs of beef cattle from 20 properties located in northern, central and southern Queensland. Swabs and buffalo flies were then tested for the presence of Stephanofilaria by qPCR. In northern and central Queensland, all properties except one, tested positive for the presence of Stephanofilaria in either buffalo flies or swabs, or in both. The infection rate varied amongst sites ranging from 0% to 100% in lesions and 0-34% in female buffalo flies. No nematodes were found in male buffalo flies. In contrast, none of the 66 lesion swabs or 1220 buffalo flies collected from southern Queensland tested positive for Stephanofilaria infection despite the frequent occurrence of lesions in the herds from which samples were collected. These findings suggest that infection with Stephanofilaria, although frequently detected, is not essential for the development of buffalo fly lesions and other factors may contribute to the initiation of lesions. This study also confirmed the potential for using surface swabs as a quicker and less invasive means of sampling lesions than dermal biopsies when testing for the presence of Stephanofilaria by qPCR, but further studies will be required to estimate the sensitivity of this technique. Understanding the pathogenesis of buffalo fly lesions will aid the development of optimal treatment and control strategies.
KW - Animals
KW - Australia/epidemiology
KW - Buffaloes
KW - Cattle
KW - Cattle Diseases/epidemiology
KW - Female
KW - Male
KW - Muscidae
KW - Queensland
U2 - 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109715
DO - 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109715
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 35597693
VL - 305
SP - 109715
JO - Veterinary Parasitology
JF - Veterinary Parasitology
SN - 0304-4017
ER -
ID: 362394001