Abstract
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is among a number of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) threatening the Balkans and therefore, preventing feeding of insects on cattle would reduce the spread of VBDs. In order to test the efficiency of Livestock Protective Fences (LPF) in the protection of dairy cattle from insect bites, a case-control study was conducted, in the districts of Nisava, Pirot and Pcinja, Southern Serbia. It consisted in comparing the number of biting flies collected within time, between 10 farms protected with LPF and 10 non protected ones. The insects were collected using two types of traps; the monoconical Vavoua trap set outside in between forested areas or rivers and the actual farm, and the BGsentinel trap baited with CO2, placed in proximity of the cattle but outside the stable. Vectors were collected every 15 days for 48 hours from May to October 2018 and kept in vials containing 70% of ethanol. Catches per trap were separately stored and for each trap, insects were classified according to species and sex and then counted. Data on milk parameters were analyzed separately, on data collected within protected farms, before and after the LPF deployment, and on data without protection at all. It was not possible to detect a direct impact of LPF on vector densities but the number of bacteria colonies (CFU) values were reduced. Some corrections/adaption in the methodology used may lead to better impact.
Highlights
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is among a number of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) threatening the Balkans
The current study aims to scientifically prove the efficiency of Livestock Protective Fences (LPF) in the protection of dairy cattle from insect bites, reducing the transmission of VBD such as LSD, and reducing the stress of the animals due to insect bites
Insects collected A total of 3,007 insects were collected during the 5-month monitoring period (Table 1), with up to 46% of Musca spp and 20% of Ceratopogonidae
Summary
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is among a number of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) threatening the Balkans. This notifiable disease has dramatic effects on rural livelihoods and the effect at national level is devastating due to strict trade restrictions (Casal et al, 2018; Molla et al, 2017). Resistance against one pyethroid will lead to resistance against the whole class This has led to widespread pyrethroid insecticides resistance in target vectors insects like Aedes sp., Culex sp. There is a highly effective technology, the use of insecticide-incorporated knitted textile screens (known as livestock protective fences – LPF), which has been very successfully used in sub-Saharan African countries for the control of several VBDs (Heilmann et al, 2017; Maia et al, 2012; 2010; Bauer et al, 2011). The fences are deployed in the vicinity of resting places near to cattle or alongside milking parlors, preventing insects from alighting on the animals
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