Failure of famphur treatment of wapiti (Cervus canadiensis) to affect egg laying and embryogenesis in the winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus

Authors: Heath ACG
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 34, Issue 10, pp 176, Oct 1986
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Deer, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Inflammation, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Disease/defect, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Parasites - external, Pest/pesticides
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: In April, 1986, 12 wapiti (Cervus canadiensis) arrived in Auckland on a flight from Canada. Before departure the wapiti had been treated once with the pour-on organophosphate chemical, famphur. This was intended to rid the animals of ectoparasites and to satisfy Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries requirements regarding the importation of livestock. On arrival of the wapiti at Somes Island Quarantine Station in Wellington Harbour, following a road journey from Auckland, eight ticks were collected from five of the animals. The ticks (five females, three males) were alive on receipt at Wallaceville Animal Research Centre and identified as the winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus. This is a one host species with a wide host range within the family Cervidae. It is also a serious pest of horses. The unfed ticks (two females, three males) died within a day or two of receipt, but a fully-engorged and two partlyengorged females remained alive and subsequently laid eggs while held in glass vials over water at room temperature…

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