Efficacy of Insect Suppression Treatments, Avian Influenza (Ai) Eradication Task Force, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1983-84

Abstract

Abstract Observations were conducted during Nov and Dec 1983 at 20 Al-infected poultry premises; 10 premises were high-rise houses (layer hens or pullets), 5 were broiler-breeder houses and 5 were shallow-pit houses (layer hens). Each house was treated with a regimen of 4 insecticidal applications to control insects in conjunction with the disinfection and cleanup of Al-quarantined poultry operations. The first treatment, a pyrethrin space spray, was applied within 24 h after depopulation of the flock. The second and third treatments were applied on the same day as the space spray or as soon as possible thereafter, and consisted of a 0.5% stirofos or 0.1% permethrin water-base spray to exterior building and ground surfaces around air vent fans, and a 0.5% stirofos water-base spray applied to manure under bird cages at 2 gal per 100 ft2. The fourth treatment, a 0.1% permethrin water-base spray to interior surfaces, was applied after approval for cleanup and disinfection, but before flock repopulation 30 days later. Treatments were applied by a commercial certified applicator consistent with label instructions. Insect populations were sampled on 2 occasions: 1) before application of space spray treatment and 2) after space spray and manure treatment but within 7 days following the pretreatment sample. Sampling procedures were as follows: In each high-rise house, the numbers of adult house flies and black garbage flies were counted on one side of 10 posts. Insects on and in manure down to a depth of 10-15 cm were talleyed by species and life stage (larvae or adult) at 10 sites on both sides of a central pathway; each sample site consisted of an area extending from the crest or middle of the manure bed to the center of the walkway and ca. 12 inches wide (ca. 3 ft2). Broiler-breeder houses were sampled by counting adult flies on 10 ceiling-support posts in the lower floor and by examining ca. 1 ft2 of litter at 10 sites around the base of posts, under feeders and at the base of walls. Shallow-pit houses were sampled by counting numbers of adult flies in an area of ca. 5-ft wide extending from the middle of the walkway to the top tier of cages. Insects on and in manure were sampled by the same procedure used in high-rise housing.