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As U.S. military bases close down in Panama and families relocate with their pets to the United States or other military instillations around the world, military officials are concerned about spreading screwworms. Private practitioners and stateside military veterinarians who treat the incoming pets are being asked to inspect the animals for possible screwworm infestations in wounds or scratches. If any larvae are found, specimens should be collected and the USDA should be notified. All larvae should be removed from the animal and treatment should employ an insecticide containing coumaphos to ensure total destruction of the larvae. Pets leaving from Panama will be inspected twice by trained personnel from the Army Veterinary Services. Surveillance for screwworm reintroduction never ends, however. In October 1998, a sharp-eyed rancher in Edwards County, Texas, submitted nine larvae he removed from a wound on an Angora goat. One of the larvae was identified as that of a screw worm by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory. "The USDA's emergency programs will make sterile screw worm fly drops in affected areas, if needed," said Dr. Terry Beals, Texas Animal Health Commission executive director. He pointed out that female screwworm flies mate only once. If they mate with released sterile male flies, no offspring are produced, and the pest is eradicated. The pest has been successfully eradicated in Mexico using the sterile male flies. |
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