Search

In the winter of 1991/92 there was an outbreak of parapox infection in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) around the coast of Cornwall. Pups were cared for at a seal rehabilitation centre and the infection occurred in most of them. The presence of parapox virus was confirmed by electron microscopy. The clinical and pathological findings, together with details of the morphology of the virus, are compared with those in previous outbreaks in North America.

In order to develop and evaluate control strategies for blowfly strike, a greater understanding of the epidemiology is essential. A postal survey of sheep farmers yielded information about ten farm and management factors and their relationship to blowfly strike prevalence. The risk of a farm reporting at least one case of blowfly strike increased as flock size and stocking density increased (adjusted odds ratio of 1.13 for an increase in flock size of 100 sheep and 1.38 for an increase in stocking density of ten sheep per hectare). As farm altitude increased, the risk of blowfly strike decreased (adjusted odds ratio 0.67 for an increase in farm altitude of 100 m). The risk of high strike prevalence (more than 2% of sheep struck) decreased as both farm altitude and flock size increased. High strike prevalence was also associated with on-farm sheep carcase disposal (odds ratio 1.35). Farmers in the south-west of England were more likely to report at least one case of blowfly strike and high strike prevalence compared to all other regions.