[Introduction of bovine hypodermiasis (Hypoderma bovis) with the importation of Hereford cattle from Canada].

Abstract

The infestation by warble-fly (Hypoderma bovis /De Geer/) larvae was observed in Hereford cattle imported from Canada to Czechoslovakia in the autumn 1974. A risk of introducing hypodermosis in the areas where it had been eradicated occurred after a several-year persistence of such foci of the disease. The original infestation of the imported cows corresponded to the invasion extensity of 22 to 45% and invasion intensity of 1.9 and 3.7 larvae. There were observed no differences in the degree of infestation in cattle from different regions of Canada. In the subsequent years the invasion extensity in heifers was 52% the invasion intensity was four larvae. To control hypodermosis, Czechoslovak chemicals Arpalit-Spray and Hypocide were applied to Hereford cattle. In the West Bohemian Region cattle was treated with the chemical Arpalit-Spray in spring for three years to eradicate hypodermosis in the Tachov and Susice districts. A good result was obtained after the treatment in May during the maximum occurrence of larvae in bulges under the skin, the treatment in June was late and inefficient. In the Central Slovakian Region, Dolný Kubín district, hypodermosis was eradicated in Hereford cattle by a repeated treatment with Hypocide in autumn. The control of hypodermosis in Hereford cattle in the Prievidza district failed. In 1979 the invasion extensity in heifers was 25-100%, the invasion intensity was 2 to 25 larvae. Cattle transferred from this herd to the Lucenec, Presov and Gottwaldov districts were also infested. In the Gottwaldov district in the South Moravian Region all infested cows were treated with Arpalit-Spray in the summer 1979.