Further evidence on the internal life cycle of Przhevalskiana silenus (Diptera, Oestridae)

Abstract

Knowledge of the internal life cycle of goat warble fly infestation is scarce despite ample data available on the aetiology, epidemiology, immunodiagnosis and treatment of such infestations. This study was carried out at the slaughterhouse of Rossano Calabro (Cosenza, southern Italy) on 154 animals from 10 months to 6 years of age from May 1997 to June 1998. 1206 Przhevalskiana silenus larvae were collected during the trial period from the subcutaneous tissue of the slaughtered animals. The larval stage average size ranged from 4.7 mm, for first instar larvae (May), to 16.6 mm, for third instar larvae (February), in the first cycle of infestation. No larvae were found in March–April, coinciding with the pupation period. Small first instar larvae were found at the beginning of the second cycle of infestation (May–June). Necroscopic examinations were also carried out on internal organs and no larvae were found. The results pointed out that the internal life cycle of P. silenus is exclusively subcutaneous and there is no internal migration of the larvae.