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Biomedical subjects

R N Titchener

Publications and source records attributed to R N Titchener.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Blowfly species composition in sheep myiasis in Scotland.

Samples of dipteran larvae were collected from live sheep throughout Scotland, reared in the laboratory, and identified once adult flies emerged. Lucilia sericata was found in 77% of samples, and other species in 49%. The most common alternative species were L.caesar, which occurred in 31% of samples, and Protophormia terraenovae, which occurred in 18%. Three other calliphorid species, Calliphora vomitoria, C.vicina and L.illustris, and the muscid Muscina pabulorum were also found. The proportion of samples containing alternative species was significantly lower in eastern Scotland than in western Scotland. Significantly higher proportions of samples containing alternative species were collected at altitudes of 200m and above; from sheep of hill breeds; from rough grazing conditions and moorland; in the absence of trees; and in the presence of bracken.

Altitude↗
PubMed1995

Effects of the sucking louse (Linognathus vituli) on the grooming behaviour of housed calves.

The behaviour of cattle with and without louse infestation was studied for eight weeks. Thirty-two crossbred calves were housed in groups of four at 20 weeks old. Sixteen of the calves were artificially infested with the long-nosed cattle louse Linognathus vituli and 16 were left uninfested as controls. In infested animals the number of lice on the shoulders averaged 2.3 per 10 cm length of parted hair. The recorded frequency of irritation, manifested by rubbing and self-licking, was significantly greater in the louse-infested calves than in the uninfested controls. The infested calves spent 28 s/h rubbing and 95 s/h self-licking, compared with 8 s and 62 s/h spent by the uninfested controls. The infested calves also spent more than twice as long scratching as the controls. There were no significant effects of the infestation on social grooming.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Blood parameters and turnover data in calves infested with lice.

Erythrokinetic and plasma protein turnover studies using 51Cr-red cells, 59Fe-transferrin and 125I-albumin, were carried out on young Ayrshire calves naturally infested with the long-nosed sucking louse Linognathus vituli. Throughout the trial none of the animals lost their appetite. Liveweight gain was greater in the uninfested animals but not significantly so. The infestation did not cause the animals to become anaemic, but plasma iron turnover rates were decreased and there was a significant increase in the red cell survival time. The circulating volumes of red cells and plasma were not significantly affected and the fractional catabolic rate of albumin was not markedly altered. At the end of the trial the mean red blood cell and mean total blood content of one louse was evaluated at 0.157 microliters and 0.443 microliters respectively, using 51Cr, and 0.120 microliters and 0.350 microliters respectively, using 59Fe. Using 125I the mean albumin content of one louse was 98.4 micrograms.

Anemia↗
PubMed1985

The control of lice on domestic livestock.

Trials showed that existing treatments for lice on cattle were not completely effective. A few long-nosed lice, Linognathus vituli survived treatment with louse powder containing gamma HCH (BHC), amitraz spray and Prolate pour-on (20% phosmet). One treatment with cyhalothrin or cypermethrin gave complete control of all four species of lice infesting cattle in the UK. These synthetic pyrethroids were applied as sprays containing 250 p.p.m. and 1000 p.p.m. of active constituent, respectively. Another synthetic pyrethroid, deltamethrin was very effective against all species of cattle lice when applied as a spot-on: it rapidly cleared L. vituli from heavily infested animals, leaving only a small residual population in the hock joints, which eventually disappeared. Cypermethrin, when incorporated into a plastic eartag at 8.5% w/w gave a measure of louse control on cattle but was not completely effective against L. vituli and Solenopotes capillatus. Ivermectin was completely effective against L. vituli and S. capillatus and completely cleared these lice species from heavily infested animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Insecticidal ear tags and sprays for the control of flies on cattle.

Ear tags containing 8.5 per cent w/w cypermethrin gave almost complete control of the biting muscid, Haematobosca stimulans. Protection afforded against nuisance flies was more variable; generally a 70 to 80 per cent reduction of headfly, Hydrotaea irritans, and a 60 to 70 per cent reduction of Morellia simplex. Ear tags containing 8.5 per cent fenvalerate also gave significant protection against biting and nuisance flies. Spraying with 500 ppm cyhalothrin or 1000 ppm cypermethrin afforded complete protection against H stimulans and reduced the burden of H irritans by approximately 90 per cent and M simplex by 80 to 90 per cent. A two week interval between treatments is suggested although this could be extended where weather conditions were favourable to the retention of insecticide on the skin or fly challenge was low. No significant increase in liveweight gain was associated with fly control. Treated animals were less disturbed when grazing and were more easily handled, especially when milking.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

The use of permethrin to control an outbreak of hen fleas (Ceratophyllus gallinae).

Complaints from workers suffering from insect bites led to the investigation of three broiler breeder houses. These houses were found to be infested with the hen flea, Ceratophyllus gallinae. Large numbers of adult fleas and larvae were extracted by Tullgren funnel from samples of wood shavings used as nest box material. Lower numbers were extracted from the litter under these nest boxes. A pilot trial using infested nest boxes and floor litter showed good control of adult fleas and larvae could be obtained using a .25% spray prepared from a permethrin water dispersable powder. In more extensive trials the following year, almost complete control of hen fleas and larvae was obtained following monthly treatments of nest boxes with a .125% permethrin spray or a 1% permethrin powder.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1981

Flies associated with cattle in south west Scotland during the summer months.

The sheep headfly, Hydrotaea irritans, and Morellia simplex were the species most frequently associated with cattle at pasture and comprised 69.01 per cent and 13.93 per cent, respectively, of the total fly collection made from grazing cattle. The most prevalent biting fly was Haematobosca stimulans which comprised 4.46 per cent of the total catch. A few clegs, Haematopota pluvialis, and horse flies, Hybomitra distinguenda, were also recorded. A few of the headflies swarming around cattle entered milking parlours and byres and made up, at 38.23 per cent, the highest percentage of the total fly collection from these buildings. Headflies congregated on the windows, particularly those in the roof. Lesser numbers of the flies, Hydrotaea albipuncta, Morellia simplex and Trichopticoides decolor, with similar feeding habits to H irritans were also collected from these windows with a number of those species attracted to excrement. The biting muscids, Stomoxys calcitrans and Haematobosca stimulans, were collected mainly from the outside surfaces at the entrance to milking parlours and byres and comprised 23.53 per cent and 11.18 per cent, respectively, of the total fly collection from these buildings. Stomoxys calcitrans, the stable fly was present on every sample taken from calf houses and comprised 63.79 per cent of the total fly collection from these houses. Two other species, Sepsis violacea and the common housefly Musca domestica, were present on occasions in significant numbers and comprised 20.69 per cent and 9.48 per cent, respectively, of the total fly collection from calf houses.

Animals↗