Oestrus ovis (Diptera: Oestridae): un importante ectoparásito de los ovinos en Cuba

Oestrus ovis L. (Diptera: Oestridae) is an important myiasis-producing agent of sheep and goats in diverse production environments. Despite of the cosmopolitan distribution of this agent, the first report of its presence in Cuba was in 1995 in Imias municipality, Guantanamo province. Since that, oestrosis has been reported in other two eastern provinces (Santiago de Cuba and Granma). Some aspects regarding biology, host action and control of Oestrus ovis have been summarized. Information on the parasitic phase, clinical expression as well the treatment of the disease is provided from studies conducted by the authors in Cuba. Oestrosis outbreaks registered by the Veterinary Services during a 6 year period (2006-2011) in Guantanamo province showed that disease has an morbidity average of 50.2%; while either mortality or lethality used to be lower (2.17% and 4.33% respectively). The active diagnosis of oestrosis revealed that the 80% of the herds examined are affected by its causal agent, indicating a high prevalence. According to these data, oestrosis may have an important economic impact on sheep production because of the high amount of susceptible animals in the eastern region of Cuba.