Flies Impacting Livestock, Poultry and Food Safety

FLIES IMPACTING LIVESTOCK, POULTRY AND FOOD SAFETY

Sponsoring Institution

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Project Status

TERMINATED

Funding Source

HATCH

Reporting Frequency

Annual

Accession No.

0213426

Grant No.

(N/A)

Project No.

TEN00366

Proposal No.

(N/A)

Multistate No.

S-1030

Program Code

(N/A)

Project Start Date

Oct 1, 2007

Project End Date

Sep 30, 2012

Grant Year

(N/A)

Project Director
Trigiano, RO.

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
2621 MORGAN CIR
KNOXVILLE,TN 37996-4540

Performing Department
Entomology & Plant Pathology

Non Technical Summary
House and stable flies are among the most important pests in livestock and poultry production systems and are responsible for damage and control costs in excess of a billion dollars per year in the United States. In addition to the direct damage these flies inflict upon livestock, their presence as a byproduct of confined livestock and poultry operations has been repeatedly cited as a common nuisance, especially when the flies enter the vicinity of human habitations and urban environments. Law suits, zoning limitations and animosity between farmers and home owners have resulted. Both of these flies use manure or manure mixed with vegetative materials to lay their eggs resulting in contact with disease agents. In spite of their ubiquitous presence, importance as pests, and association with diseases of humans and livestock, our knowledge of the biology of these species is seriously wanting and available control technologies remain ineffective. House flies are capable of carrying more than 65 disease organisms that affect humans and animals such as the virulent Escherichia coli strain O157:H7. In poultry production, house flies can transmit Salmonella among flocks; and the spotting of eggs with fly specks, reduces the eggs' market value. With their painful bites, stable flies can reduce weight gains of cattle on finishing rations up to 20%. It has been estimated that stable flies caused $432 million dollars in losses each year, primarily to confined livestock, in the US and they have emerged as primary pests of pasture cattle as well, doubling their economic impact.

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
308	3110	1130	25%
312	3299	1100	25%
315	3399	1130	25%
712	3499	1100	25%

Knowledge Area
308 - Improved Animal Products (Before Harvest); 712 - Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins; 312 - External Parasites and Pests of Animals; 315 - Animal Welfare/Well-Being and Protection;

Subject Of Investigation
3299 - Poultry, general/other; 3499 - Dairy cattle, general/other; 3110 - Insects; 3399 - Beef cattle, general/other;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1100 - Bacteriology;

Keywords

Goals / Objectives
1. Characterize dispersal and population biology of stable flies and house flies, and develop monitoring methods for use in indoor and outdoor environments. 2. Establish extent of fly-borne dispersal of human and animal pathogens. 3. Improve management tactics for stable flies and house flies.

Project Methods
Historical weather and first date of stable flies' appearance on traps will be evaluated to estimate when northerly dispersal of stable flies is most likely to occur. Sampling will begin 2-3 weeks prior to the estimated date and continue until local production of the second generation is observed. Alsynite traps will be deployed along the putative northeasterly dispersal routes through NW TX, OK, KS, NE, IA, MN, IL, IN, TN and NY. Traps will be operated semi-weekly during the dispersal period and the number of stable flies caught will be recorded. Weather will be monitored to identify frontal systems approaching the study area; traps will be operated daily at least two days before and after the arrival of frontal systems. Fresh stable fly specimens will be dissected to assess physiological status. Correlation of trap collections with weather parameters will be assessed. Three and five fold increases in trap rates (flies/trap-day) will allow two levels of discrimination of the strength of the data. Starting in the summer of 2007 we will begin a nationwide survey of insecticide resistance in house flies, using both bioassays and genotyping of the alleles involved in insecticide resistance. We anticipate evaluating one class of insecticides each year starting with pyrethroids (permethrin and cyfluthrin).

Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: A study on the effects of bedding surface on fly populations and welfare of pre-weaned dairy calves was started in the fall of 2012. The objectives of this study are to compare the fly populations in the different bedding materials and to compare the fly populations and bedding materials to overall calf comfort (measured by behavioral and physiological differences) in order to identify the most appropriate bedding material. PARTICIPANTS: This study collaborates with the Animal Science department as they are collecting calf behavioral, physiological, and growth rate data that will indicate levels of calf welfare. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Impacts will benefit the welfare and overall comfort of diary calves.

Publications

No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Nothing significant to report during this period. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Nothing significant to report during this period.

Publications

No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: No activity, no FTE allocation at this time. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
No activity, no FTE allocation at this time.

Publications

No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period due to the retirement of a main participant, Dr. Reid Gerhardt. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Nothing significant to report during this reporting period due to the retirement of a main participant, Dr. Reid Gerhardt.

Publications

No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: A multistate plan was developed for trapping flies during the spring and early summer. We prepared appropriate trapping paper and Alsynite (Broce) traps and chose cooperators and sites. The plan was delayed for one year because of health problems of one of the major contributors. We have rescheduled for 2009. PARTICIPANTS: The scientist in charge of field research has retired and has not been replaced. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
A novel concept for determining the source of flies, Neutron Activation Analysis, was proposed and will be tested in the summer of 2009.

Publications

No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project just began and there is no progress to report. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
This project just began and there is no progress to report.

Publications

No publications reported this period