OCCURRENCE OF DIPTERAN LARVAL INFESTATION AMONG LIVESTOCK SPECIES IN CAUVERY DELTA REGION OF TAMILNADU

A total of 46 maggot samples were collected from various sites of different species that were reported to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu during the period from April 2023 to April 2024. The maggots were preserved in 70% ethanol and identified based on the morphological features of posterior spiracles. The larvae were found to be of the flies of the genus Chrysomyia, Lucilia, Oestrus ovis, Sarcophaga and Musca. In this study, Chrysomyia (47.82%) was more prevalent than other larva-Lucilia (32.60%), Oestrus ovis (8.69%), Sarcophaga (6.52%) and Musca (4.34%). The occurrence of myiasis were highest during the rainy season (41.30%) followed by summer (34.78%), winter (23.91%). Rump, shoulder, brisket and umbilical regions were some of the areas, the lesions of wound myiasis were frequently located. The study highlights the seasonal occurrence of various dipteran larval infestations among the livestock species from Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu.