DETECTION OF DERMATOPHILOSIS AND LICE (BOVICOLA-OVIS) ON FLAYED PELTSAND COCKLE ON THE SKIN OF LIVE LAMBS

Pelts from lambs submitted to an abattoir were obtained at monthly int ervals from December to August. One half of each freshly flayed pelt w as examined for cockle, lice (Bovicola ovis) and dermatophilosis, and the observations compared with defects attributable to cockle and derm atophilosis in the corresponding pickled half-pelts. Formalin-fixed sa mples from pelts identified as having cockle were examined microscopic ally. Cockle was not detected macroscopically in flayed half-pelts des pite being obvious in 4% of the pelts after pickling. Lice were detect ed in 17% of the flayed half-pelts. Dermatophilosis occurred in 12% of flayed half-pelts, presenting most commonly as small lesions in the d orsal midline regions of the lambs. However, only 4% of pickled half-p elts showed defects attributable to dermatophilosis. In other groups o f lambs, cockle was detected in vivo by examining the skin over the up per shoulder region after close shearing of the wool. This method of d etection showed sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 100%. The result s of this work provide a basis for the monitoring of dermatophilosis a nd cockle in live lambs.