176 



King (H. H.). The Fowl Tick (Argas persicus, Oken.). — Wellcome 

 Trop. Res. Lab., Khartoum, Ent. Bull. 16, July 1921, 6 pp. 



A common poultry pest in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan is the fowl 

 tick {Argas persicus). It essentially attacks fowls, turkeys, ducks 

 and geese, but it has been recorded as infesting pigeons, and in Persia 

 is said to attack man. Its life-history and habits have already been 

 noticed [R.A.E., B, i, 23, 115; ii, 115]. In addition to causing 

 ill health in fowls, it is the carrier of Spirochaeta marchouxi, the 

 causal agent of fowl spirochaetosis. 



Trapping is an effective remedial measure. Fowl houses made of 

 mud brick should be sand plastered, the doors tarred and all crevices 

 filled in. The floor should be of cement or rammed earth. The perches 

 should be wooden, resting on iron brackets arising from the floor, 

 or on wooden trestles. They should be easily detachable and have at 

 least one deep crack. Nesting boxes should be of wood and should not 

 touch the walls. Any larval ticks, after leaving their host, will hide 

 in the cracks in the perches, or woodwork of the trestles, or the crevices 

 of the nest boxes when the hens are broody. These perches and the 

 other crevices should be thoroughly scalded once a week, and this 

 should be continued even if no ticks are found. Scalding water alone 

 should be used, as other substances may render the cracks unattractive 

 as hiding places. Fowls should not be allowed to roost in trees or 

 on walls. If the roofs become infested, spraying with paraffin is 

 recommended. They should preferably be made of con-ugated iron 

 resting on iron bars, as these furnish no shelter for ticks. 



Mazzaccara (G.). L'Estro equino {Gastrophilus equi). [The Horse 

 Bot.] — Allevamenti, Palermo, ii, no. 8, 1st August 1921, p. 238. 



A bdef account is given of the life-cycle of and injury done by 

 Gastrophilus intestinalis {equi). Infested horses should be given 

 daily four gelatine capsules each containing I oz. of carbon bisulphide. 

 Such larvae as are expelled alive must be killed. The adult fly may 

 be kept away from grazing animals by washing them with a solution 

 of tobacco or other repellent. 



Memorandum on the Cattle Industry of Southern Rhodesia, 1921. 



—Rhodesia Agric. Jl., Salisbury, xviii, no. 3, June 1921, pp. 

 237-314, 3 tables. 



The general health conditions of cattle in Rhodesia are remarkably 

 good compared with other countries. Cattle owners are more affected 

 by the quarantine restrictions imposed for x\frican coast fever than by 

 actuaMosses of animals from the disease. From 1906-1919 inclusive 

 the mortality from this disease was only 500 head a year. At present 

 there is only one centre where deaths occur, and it is hoped to eradicate 

 this disease entirely from the country. 



Imported cattle suffer from redwater and gall-sickness, but preventive 

 inoculation for these diseases is being improved. The blood parasites 

 Piroplasma bigeminum and Anaplasma marginale are prevalent in all 

 indigenous cattle, causing stunted growth as well as injury from the 

 direct action of the disease. Ticks transmit the disease to imported 

 cattle, the most virulent forms always attacking the better bred animals. 



Compulsory weekly dipping of cattle is universal, except in a few 

 remote localities. There are to-day 1,639 dipping tanks in Southern 

 Rhodesia, or upwards of one to every thousand head of cattle. 



