Controlling sheep scab by eradication

Sargison, Neil; Roger, Paul; Stubbings, Lesley; Baber, Peter; Morris, Peter G.

doi:10.1136/vr.160.14.491-b

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Sheep scab is a disease of major economic importance in the UK, and is found in sheep‐producing countries worldwide with the exception of Australia and New Zealand where it has been successfully eradicated [50]. It is caused by Psoroptes ovis ; small (0.75 mm) ectoparasitic mites which live on the surface of the sheep's skin, below the fleece.…”

Section: Common Ectoparasites Of Domestic Livestockmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sheep scab is a disease of major economic importance in the UK, and is found in sheep-producing countries worldwide with the exception of Australia and New Zealand where it has been successfully eradicated. [50] It is caused by Psoroptes ovis; small (0.75 mm) ectoparasitic mites which live on the surface of the sheep's skin, below the fleece. The mites are not blood feeders, but instead ingest serous exudate produced by the skin as part of a delayed hypersensitivity response [51] brought on by allergens in the mites' faecal pellets.…”

Section: Sheep Scabmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ectoparasites of medical and veterinary importance: drug resistance and the need for alternative control methods

McNair

2015

Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

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Objectives Despite multiple attempts at eradication, many ectoparasites of humans and domestic livestock remain a persistent problem in the modern world. For many years, a range of pesticide drugs including organophosphates, organochlorides and synthetic pyrethroids provided effective control of these parasites; but intensive use of these drugs has led to the evolution of resistance in many target species. This paper aims to review the effectiveness of current control methods and discuss potential alternatives for the long term sustainable control of ectoparasites. Key Findings Important medical ectoparasites such as scabies mites, head lice and bed bugs present a significant public health problem, and so adequate control methods are essential. Ectoparasites of domestic livestock and farmed fish (for example sheep scab mites, poultry mites and sea lice) are also of concern given the increasing strain on the world's food supply. These parasites have become resistant to several classes of pesticide, making control very difficult. Recently, an increasing amount of research has focussed on alternative control methods such as insect growth regulators, biological control using essential oils or fungi, as well as vaccine development against some ectoparasites of medical and veterinary importance. Summary Drug resistance is prevalent in all of the ectoparasites discussed in this review. A wide variety of alternative control methods have been identified, however further research is necessary in order for these to be used to successfully control ectoparasitic diseases in the future.

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Section: Common Ectoparasites Of Domestic Livestockmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sheep Scabmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ectoparasites of medical and veterinary importance: drug resistance and the need for alternative control methods

McNair

2015

Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

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“…Sheep scab is a serious animal welfare problem caused by the skin parasite Psoroptes ovis which is now endemic throughout the UK [ 77 , 78 ] since de-regulation of compulsory dipping in 1992. A prevalence rate of 17% was recorded in Wales for 2003/04 [ 79 ], while a later study found a prevalence rate of approximately 24% [ 80 ].…”

Section: Improving Animal Welfare By Prevention and Control Of Spementioning

confidence: 99%

The Challenges to Improve Farm Animal Welfare in the United Kingdom by Reducing Disease Incidence with Greater Veterinary Involvement on Farm

Scott

2013

Animals

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Simple SummarySick cattle and sheep are often treated by farmers without prior veterinary examination and, as a consequence, incorrect diagnoses and inappropriate therapies are common, but these failings largely go undetected and unreported. Many farmers maintain that market forces render veterinary care of individual sick sheep and cattle too expensive. Delays in requesting veterinary attention are not uncommon causing unnecessary animal suffering and a poorer outcome. Incidence rates of endemic diseases in the United Kingdom are too high, causing animal welfare concerns, but these could be reduced by the implementation of proven veterinary flock/herd health programmes.AbstractThe Cattle Health and Welfare Group of Great Britain report (CHAWG; 2012) lists the most important cattle diseases and disorders but fails to fully acknowledge the importance of animal mental health and; in so doing; misses the opportunity to further promote animal welfare. There are effective prevention regimens; including vaccination; husbandry and management strategies for all ten listed animal health concerns in the CHAWG report; however control measures are infrequently implemented because of perceived costs and unwillingness of many farmers to commit adequate time and resources to basic farm management tasks such as biosecurity; and biocontainment. Reducing disease prevalence rates by active veterinary herd and flock health planning; and veterinary care of many individual animal problems presently “treated” by farmers; would greatly improve animal welfare. Published studies have highlighted that treatments for lame sheep are not implemented early enough with many farmers delaying treatment for weeks; and sometimes even months; which adversely affects prognosis. Disease and welfare concerns as a consequence of sheep ectoparasites could be greatly reduced if farmers applied proven control strategies detailed in either veterinary flock health plans or advice available from expert veterinary websites. Recent studies have concluded that there is also an urgent need for veterinarians to better manage pain in livestock. Where proven treatments are available; such as blockage of pain arising from ovine obstetrical problems by combined low extradural injection of lignocaine and xylazine; these are seldom requested by farmers because the technique is a veterinary procedure and incurs a professional fee which highlights many farmers’ focus on economics rather than individual animal welfare.

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“…Transmission of sheep scab typically occurs through direct contact with an infested animal or by contact with contaminated fomites in an infested environment, for instance with fence posts, farm machinery, or contaminated wool. Importantly, continuous incursions of infestation happen between neighboring farms (7,8), particularly when these farms keep sheep in adjacent fields with shared rubbing areas or when there are gaps in common fence-lines. Because of this, it is typically recommended that neighbors should treat at the same time to achieve maximum effect and protection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uptake of Diagnostic Tests by Livestock Farmers: A Stochastic Game Theory Approach

et al. 2020

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Game theory examines strategic decision-making in situations of conflict, cooperation, and coordination. It has become an established tool in economics, psychology and political science, and more recently has been applied to disease control. Used to examine vaccination uptake in human medicine, game theory shows that when vaccination is voluntary some individuals will choose to "free-ride" on the protection provided by others, resulting in insufficient coverage for control of a vaccine-preventable disease. Here, we use game theory to examine farmer uptake of a new diagnostic ELISA test for sheep scab-a highly infectious disease with an estimated cost exceeding £8M per year to the UK industry. The stochastic game models decisions made by neighboring farmers when deciding whether to adopt the newly available test, which can detect subclinical infestation. A key element of the stochastic game framework is that it allows multiple states. Depending on infestation status and test adoption decisions in the previous year, a farm may be at high, medium or low risk of infestation this year-a status which influences the decision the farmer makes and the farmer payoffs. Ultimately, each farmer's decision depends on the costs of using the diagnostic test vs. the benefits of enhanced disease control, which may only accrue in the longer term. The extent to which a farmer values short-term over long-term benefits reflects external factors such as inflation or individual characteristics such as patience. Our results show that when using realistic parameters and with a test cost around 50% more than the current clinical diagnosis, the test will be adopted in the high-risk state, but not in the low-risk state. For the medium risk state, test adoption will depend on whether the farmer takes a long-term or short-term view. We show that these outcomes are relatively robust to change in test costs and, moreover, that whilst the farmers adopting the test would not expect to see large gains in profitability, substantial reduction in sheep scab (and associated welfare implications) could be achieved in a cost-neutral way to the industry.

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Controlling sheep scab by eradication

Cited by 13 publications

References 6 publications

Ectoparasites of medical and veterinary importance: drug resistance and the need for alternative control methods

Ectoparasites of medical and veterinary importance: drug resistance and the need for alternative control methods

The Challenges to Improve Farm Animal Welfare in the United Kingdom by Reducing Disease Incidence with Greater Veterinary Involvement on Farm

Uptake of Diagnostic Tests by Livestock Farmers: A Stochastic Game Theory Approach

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