Biting and bloodsucking lice of dogs--treatment by means of a neem seed extract (MiteStop®, Wash Away Dog).

Dogs infested with lice belonging either to the group of Mallophaga (hairlings, i.e., Trichodectes canis) or Anoplura (bloodsucking lice, e.

Treatment with a neem seed extract (MiteStop®) of beetle larvae parasitizing the plumage of poultry.

Beetles of the species Alphitobius diaperinus, Dermestes bicolor, and Dermestes lardarius may transmit severe agents of diseases on poultry and may in addition harm as larvae the skin and feathers thus leading to severe economic losses. The present study deals with a control measurement using a neem seed extract (MiteStop®) being diluted with tap water. It was shown that spraying of a 1:33 dilution kills both larvae and adults of these part-time parasites as was previously shown for other parasites such as mites, ticks, and blood sucking or biting insects.

Entomological survey on vectors of Bluetongue virus in Northrhine-Westfalia (Germany) during 2007 and 2008.

The entomological monitoring programs done on 19 farms all over Northrhine-Westfalia (Germany) in the years 2007 and 2008 showed that the species Culicoides obsoletus and C. pulicaris are the most common ones and that both act as vectors of the bluetongue-virus of the serotype 8. Especially the species C.

The European vectors of Bluetongue virus: are there species complexes, single species or races in Culicoides obsoletus and C. pulicaris detectable by sequencing ITS-1, ITS-2 and 18S-rDNA?

When studying the vectorship of Culicoides species during the outbreak of Bluetongue disease (BTD) in Central Europe, the question arose whether the most common species and additionally proven vectors of BTV (C. obsoletus and C. pulicaris) are definitive species or do they belong to so-called complexes, since the determination based on morphological criteria is not very significant and knowledge on the life cycles is poor or even absent.

Bluetongue disease in Germany (2007-2008): monitoring of entomological aspects.

In the summer of 2006, a bluetongue epidemic started in the border area of Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany, spread within 2 years over large areas of Western and Central Europe, and caused substantial losses in farm ruminants. Especially sheep and cattle were severely affected, leading to a case-fatality ratio of nearly 40% in sheep (Conraths et al., Emerg Inf Dis 15(3):433-435, 2009).

Outbreak of bluetongue disease (BTD) in Germany and the danger for Europe.

In August 2006, the blue tongue virus (BTV-type South Africa serotype 8) was detected for the first time in cattle blood probes in the Netherlands, immediately followed by cases in Belgium and in cattle on German farms, which were situated close to Aachen at the border to those countries. Within less than 2 months the disease spread eastwards crossing the Rhine, southwards to Luxemburg and to Northern France. At the end of the year 2006, nearly 1,000 farms were affected in Germany.

Pilot study on deltamethrin treatment (Butox 7.5, Versatrine) of cattle and sheep against midges (Culicoides species, Ceratopogonidae).

Deltamethrin (Butox 7.5, Versatrine)-treated hair of cattle and sheep were brought into contact for 15, 30, 60, or 120 s with freshly caught Culicoides specimens, which are the vectors of the Bluetongue virus. The hair was clipped off from the treated animal just above the claws-a region which is one of the predominant biting sites of the midges.

Effects of permethrin (Flypor) and fenvalerate (Acadrex60, Arkofly) on Culicoides species-the vector of Bluetongue virus.

Bluetongue disease struggles ruminants in Europe since summer 2006, introducing high levels of morbidity and mortality. Besides vaccination, the application of insecticides is another means to protect cattle and sheep from infections with the Bluetongue virus, which is transmitted in Europe by female specimens of Culicoides species (Culicoides obsoletus and in a few cases of Culicoides pulicaris and Culicoides dewulfi). The present study deals with the effects of permethrin (Flypor) and fenvalerate (Arkofly, Acadrex 60) on freshly caught Culicoides specimens when brought into contact for 15, 30, 60 or 120 s with hair of cattle or sheep treated topically 7,14, 21, 28 or 35 days before.

Efficacy of Oxyfly on Culicoides species--the vectors of Bluetongue virus--and other insects.

The efficacy of the insecticide Oxyfly (active compound lambda-cyhalothrin) was tested against specimens of Culicoides species-the vectors of Bluetongue virus-and other insects. Living specimens of the insects were brought into contact for at least 10-15 s with treated wooden plates and the extinction period of the insects was followed over the next minutes or hours. It turned out that this rather short contact was sufficient to kill the Culicoides specimens in minutes and the other insects in a few hours even if the plates had been impregnated 9 weeks before.

Effects of Bayofly on specimens of Culicoides species when incubated in hair taken from the feet of previously treated cattle and sheep.

Sheep and cattle were treated with Bayofly pour-on containing 1 g cyfluthrin per 100 ml ready-to-use solution. Seven, 14, 21 and 28 days after treatment, hair was clipped off from the back and feet and mixed for 10-15 s, 30 s, 1 or 2 min with freshly caught Culicoides midges. It was found that the insecticide on hair from the legs--the predominant biting site of midges--had a significant killing effect on Culicoides for 3-4 weeks, even after a short-term contact.

First occurrence of Culicoides obsoletus-transmitted Bluetongue virus epidemic in Central Europe.

In August 2006, Bluetongue virus disease (BTD) was detected for the first time in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Northern France. Serological tests as well as reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) proved the occurrence of Bluetongue virus (BTV) in diseased sheep and cattle, and the virus was identified as serotype 8. Therefore, the search for possible vectors was immediately initiated in the outbreak region in Germany.