Author(s): A.M. Alahmed
Article publication date: 2002-09-01
Vol. 20 No. 3 (yearly), pp. 161-164.
144
Keywords
Cephalonia titillator, Larvae, Seasonal Prevalence, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Eight hundred and sixty heads of Camels were randomly selected and examined for infection by the three larval stages of the camel nasal bot-fly Cephalonia willator, during the period from April, 1999 to May, 2000 in Riyadh abattoir. Middle Province, Saudi Arabia. Three hundred and fifty heads of Camels (41%) were infested with first second and third instars. The highest peak of infested camels was in April, 2000, reaching 99%, while the lowest was in July, 1999 (4%). A total of 1689 larvae of all three instars were collected. The percentage of infestation of the first second and third larvae were 31%, 35% and 34% respectively, with no significant difference. The mean monthly total number of all three instars per camel head (L/C) had two peaks of abundance in August, 1999 (6.8 L/C) and in February, 2000 (7.7 L/C). In two cases, both C. titillator and Oestrus ovis were found in the same camel in May, 1999 and in March, 2000. The explanation of these incidences will be discussed in the paper.