Sheep blowfly research. VI. The treatment of myiasis

Abstract

An attempt was made to prepare a blowfly dressing which would be rapidly lethal to the maggots and cause the strike wounds to become unattractive to blowflies and to dry and heal quickly. In vitro tests of contact larvicides on blowfly maggots were found to be unreliable. Tests were, therefore, made on artificial strikes. The larvicidal efficacy of neutral tar oils is greatly increased by the addition of alcohol. The further addition of a suitable acid increases larvicidal efficacy, makes wounds unattractive and promotes rapid healing. A dressing is described which has given good results in field tests and which is also effective for treatment against screw-worm in cattle. The dressing readily kills ticks on animals and has given good results in a few cases of sarcoptic mange.