Preliminary investigations into the effect of ostrich feather lice (Struthiolipeurus struthionis) on production and leather quality
A. Engelbrecht A B D and S. W. P. Cloete B CA Institute for Animal Production, PO Box 351, Oudtshoorn 6620, South Africa.
B Department of Animal Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.
C Institute for Animal Production, Private Bag X1, Elsenburg 7607, South Africa.
D Corresponding author. Email: anele@elsenburg.com
Animal Production Science 52(5) 347-353 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN11330
Submitted: 23 April 2011 Accepted: 2 February 2012 Published: 24 April 2012
Abstract
The effect of ostrich feather lice (Struthiolipeurus struthionis) on productivity and leather quality was investigated in the light of louse-related skin damage on other livestock species that seems similar to defects, called pitting, seen on ostrich skins. The occurrence and spread of feather lice on ostriches were also studied. Natural infestation of louse-free ostriches within a group mixed with louse-infested ostriches was achieved within 6 months. Lousiness was determined by visual counts on the body and feathers of the ostriches on five locations. There was a relatively low correlation between the number of lice observed on the live ostriches and the actual number of lice extracted from harvested wing feathers. However, it was demonstrated that lice obtained from feathers increased at a rate of 3.29 (s.e. = 1.34) lice per 100 g of feathers for an increase of one louse observed on the live birds in the paddock (R2 = 0.23). Treatment with synthetic pyrethroid insecticides eradicated all lice. Louse infestation had no significant influence on growth or slaughter traits, while no causal relationship between louse infestation and pitting damage on the processed ostrich skins could be demonstrated.
Additional keywords: biting louse, ectoparasites, lesions, pit marks, skin.
References
Arends JJ (1991) External parasites and poultry pests. In ‘Diseases of poultry.’ 9th edn. (Eds BW Calnek, HJ Barnes, CW Beard, WM Reid, HW Yoder Jr) pp. 702–730. (Iowa State University Press: Ames, IA)Baggot JD (2001) ‘The physiological basis of veterinary clinical pharmacology.’ (Blackwell Science: Oxford, UK)
Brown L, van der Linde TC de K, Fourie LJ, Horak IG (2005) Seasonal occurrence and production effects of the biting louse Damalinia limbata on Angora goats and 2 treatment options. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 76, 74–78.
Cloete SWP, Bunter KL, Van Schalkwyk SJ (2002) Progress towards a scientific breeding strategy for ostriches. In ‘Proceedings of the 7th world congress on genetics applied to livestock production’. pp. 561–568. (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, INRA: Castanet-Tolosan, France)
Coles GC, Hadley PJ, Milnes AS, Green LE, Stosic PJ, Garnsworthy PC (2003) Relationship between lice infestation and leather damage in cattle. The Veterinary Record 153, 255–259.
| Relationship between lice infestation and leather damage in cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3svjtlSqsg%3D%3D&md5=3a7abd845f1b52831c049d81a97e75d0CAS |
Cooper RG (2001) Ostrich (Struthio camelus var. domesticus) skin and leather: a review focused on southern Africa. World’s Poultry Science Journal 57, 157–178.
| Ostrich (Struthio camelus var. domesticus) skin and leather: a review focused on southern Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cooper RG, El Doumani HAA (2006) The presence of quill mites (Gabucinia bicaudata) and lice (Struthiolipeurus struthionis) in ostrich wing feathers. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 77, 9–11.
Engelbrecht A, Cloete SWP (2010) Faktore wat die voorkoms van putjieskade op volstruisvelle kan beïnvloed. Elsenburg Joernaal Desember, 2–5. [in Afrikaans].
Engelbrecht A, Cloete SWP, Bunter KL, van Wyk JB (2009a) Estimating heritability of subjectively assessed ostrich leather quality traits using threshold models. In ‘Proceedings of the 18th conference of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics’. pp. 548–551.
Engelbrecht A, Hoffman LC, Cloete SWP, van Schalkwyk SJ (2009b) Ostrich leather quality: a review. Animal Production Science 49, 549–557.
| Ostrich leather quality: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fallis AM (1980) Arthropods as pests and vectors of disease. Veterinary Parasitology 6, 47–73.
| Arthropods as pests and vectors of disease.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Heath ACG, Cooper SM, Cole DJW, Bishop DM (1995) Evidence for the role of the sheep biting-louse Bovicola ovis in producing cockle, a sheep pelt defect. Veterinary Parasitology 59, 53–58.
| Evidence for the role of the sheep biting-louse Bovicola ovis in producing cockle, a sheep pelt defect.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK28%2Fls1ajtA%3D%3D&md5=80c38ecbd096e88c8b2c1b166885fc63CAS |
Huchzermeyer FW (1999) Veterinary problems. In ‘The ostrich: biology, production and health’. (Ed. DC Deeming) pp. 293–320. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)
James PJ (2002) Sheep lice: changing control practices and wool industry implications. Wool Technology and Sheep Breeding 50, 567–573.
Jarvis M (1996) The different types of ostriches. SA Ostrich Aug–Oct, 20–29.
Langridge D (2002) Microscopical studies in leather manufacture. Part 1 of 4: raw materials. World Leather, October 2002, 70–72.
Meyer A, Cloete SWP, Brown CR (2003) The influence of separate-sex rearing on ostrich behaviour and skin damage. South African Journal of Animal Science 33, 95–104.
| The influence of separate-sex rearing on ostrich behaviour and skin damage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nafstad O, Wisloff H, Gronstol H (2001) Morphology of the leather defect light flecks and spots. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 42, 107–112.
| Morphology of the leather defect light flecks and spots.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD38%2FitFeiuw%3D%3D&md5=5b20221e9e8e4f08a480cea2e6faf8d7CAS |
Ponce Gordo F, Herrera S, Castro AT, García Durán B, Martínez Díaz RA (2002) Parasites from farmed ostriches (Struthio camelus) and rheas (Rhea americana) in Europe. Veterinary Parasitology 107, 137–160.
| Parasites from farmed ostriches (Struthio camelus) and rheas (Rhea americana) in Europe.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD38zjtVaiug%3D%3D&md5=abeab860597e88baf289ff8b25146115CAS |
Russel AE, Kohl R (1999) Salting of ostrich skins. Comparative cure quality in stack-salting and drum-brining of ostrich skins. LIRI report no. 2005. (Grahamstown Ostrich Tanning Company: Grahamstown, South Africa)
Siegel S (1956) ‘Non parametric statistics for the behavioural sciences.’ (McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc.: New York)
Snodgrass RE (1944) ‘The feeding apparatus of biting and sucking insects affecting man and animals.’ (Smithsonian Institution: Washington, DC)
Southwood TRE (1975) ‘Ecological methods: with particular reference to the study of insect populations.’ (Chapman and Hall: London)
Turner HN, Young SSY (1969) ‘Quantitative genetics in sheep breeding.’ (MacMillan Publishing Co.: Melbourne)
