The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
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14 TheHorse.com THE HORSE September 2017 AAEP FORUM LISA EDWARDS, DVM, & SHARON SPIER, DVM, PHD, DIPL. ACVIM TheHorse.com/AAEP-Forum F lies are a bane to barn life; they not only transmit disease but also irritate horses (and us). Before we dive into control methods, let's review fly species you might face. Identifying them can help you create an effective fly control plan. The housefly, Musca domestica, and the face fly, Musca autumnalis, are nonbiting flies that feed on eye secretions, nasal dis- charge, wounds, manure, and on moisture around genitalia. The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, is a biting fly that uses a pierc- ing mouthpart to feed on blood and tends to target horses' lower limbs and abdo- mens. The horn fly, Haematoba irritans, is a biting fly that generally feeds on cattle but will bite horses housed nearby. Houseflies and stable flies typically reproduce in manure, wet straw bedding, garbage, and poorly composted manure. Face flies and horn flies only breed in fresh cattle manure. Adult face flies do not like to feed in dark barns or shady areas. The housefly is commonly found in hot summer months; the face fly and stable fly are usually seen from mid-spring to summer and sometimes into early fall. Houseflies and stable flies breed year- round in tropical and subtropical regions, but they hibernate in temperate regions during colder weather. Tabanids such as horseflies and deerflies generally prefer sunshine and avoid shaded places; they are inactive at night. Culicoides species are biting gnats that breed near water. Their preferred biting sites vary; some feed near the mane and tail, while others prefer the abdomen, legs, or face. They are weak fliers, don't travel far, and are most active at sunset. Disease Vectors Here are some of the conditions flies cause and diseases they transmit: Summer sores Houseflies, face flies, and stable flies transfer parasitic nematode larvae (e.g., Habronema species) to moist areas around the eyes, nostrils, mouth, genitalia, and wounds. The larvae can't complete their life cycle in these tissues and incite a hypersensitivity reaction, resulting in chronic nonhealing wounds. Eyeworms Face flies transmit Thelazia lacrymalis, a nematode worm that resides in eye glands and ducts, resulting in ir- ritation and secondary infection. Pigeon fever Houseflies, stable flies, and horn flies can spread the bacterium Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, the causative agent of pigeon fever. Infec- tion most commonly leads to external abscesses, though some horses develop more serious forms including internal abscesses and ulcerative lymphangitis (infection of the limb). Equine infectious anemia virus Horse- flies and deerflies use their large piercing mouth parts to transmit this often-fatal virus from one horse to another. Hypersensitivity Biting flies and gnats can induce hives, intense itching, hair loss, skin thickening, excoriations (abra- sions), and skin ulceration that can pre- dispose to secondary skin infection. Onchocerciasis Culicoides species are the intermediate host for the nematode parasite Onchocerca cervicalis. The imma- ture forms (microfilariae) of this worm are found in horses' skin (often at the midline of the abdomen); adults reside in the nuchal ligament of the neck. The microfilariae cause skin irritation that results in scales, crusts, ulceration, hair loss, and skin pigmentation loss. Fly Control Methods Proper sanitation and manure manage- ment are the most effective fly control methods. Simply remove their breeding ground, and they won't proliferate. Here are some ways to do this: ■ Quickly remove manure, excess feed, wet straw/hay, and other organic debris. ■ Close garbage containers tightly, and clean them regularly. ■ Locate manure sites as far from stables as possible, or move them off property. Flies can travel miles to find your horse. ■ Move round bales regularly, and clean the feeding area. ■ Modify paddocks, stalls, and watering systems to avoid water accumulation. ■ Cover composted manure with a fly barrier such as plastic. ■ Spread manure thinly on nongrazing pastures to facilitate rapid drying. ■ Place fly spray systems in the barn and apply insecticides (pyrethrin, perme- thrin) to surfaces where flies rest. ■ Place fly traps (insecticide baits, pheromone lure, or sugar lure) or resin "ribbons" outside the barn to lure flies away from horses. ■ Release fly predators. These wasps lay their eggs in fly pupae, then kill the developing fly larvae. Insecticides will adversely affect fly parasites and should be applied away from where they have been released. ■ Feed insect growth regulators to horses daily or every other day. Treat all horses on the property for maximum efficacy. ■ Use horse protection, such as fly masks, sheets, and boots; strong fans; and fly repellent sprays and spot-on treatments. Contact your local extension agent for further information on insect control. h Why Fly Control is Critical Some flies transmit parasitic nematode larvae that cause chronic nonhealing summer sores. COURTESY DR. LISA EDWARDS American Association of Equine Practitioners, 4033 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511 • 859/233-0147 • www.aaep.org