Traumatic sheep myiasis: A review of the current understanding

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology 2023-02, Vol.314, p.109853-109853, Article 109853
• Main Authors: Bambaradeniya, Y.T.B., Magni, P.A., Dadour, I.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Diptera; Economy; Humans; Larva; Metagenomics; Microbiology; Myiasis - epidemiology; Myiasis - veterinary; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - epidemiology; Sheep Diseases - prevention & control; Strike; Traps; Volatile organic compounds; Weather
• ISSN: 0304-4017; 1873-2550
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109853

Myiasis, or the infestation of live humans and vertebrate animals by dipterous larvae, is a health issue worldwide. The economic impact and potential threat to animal health and wellbeing of this disease under the animal husbandry sector is considerable. Sheep are a highly vulnerable livestock category exposed to myiasis (sheep strike), due to several unique predisposing factors that attract flies. The successful mitigation of this disease relies on a thorough understanding of fly population dynamics associated with the change in weather patterns and the evaluation of this disease through different branches of science such as chemistry, molecular biology, and microbiology. The present review provides a summary of the existing knowledge of strike in sheep, discussed in relation to the application of volatile organic compounds, metagenomics, and molecular biology, and their use regarding implementing fly control strategies such as traps, and to increase the resilience of sheep to this disease through improving their health and wellbeing. •Myiasis is defined as the infestation of dipterous larvae on live vertebrate animals.•Sheep are one of the livestock groups most vulnerable to flystrike.•This review provides a summary account of sheep myiasis, emphasizing fly-sheep interactions.•Previous studies have shown that climate change impacts fly dispersal patterns.•Existing fly control strategies require a mix of old and new research approaches.