Influence of parasiticide treatment on kinetics of antigen specific antibody response in cattle infested with Hypoderma lineatum (Diptera: Oestridae)

The effect of parasiticide treatment on dynamics of antigen specific antibody responses to Hypoderma lineatum (De Villers) was investigated in naturally infested calves. Parasiticides were applied to cattle 1 month prior to, 1 week prior to, and coincident with the appearance of warbles in untreated calves from the same source herd. When cattle were treated approximately 1 month before warbles appeared in untreated control animals, antigen specific antibody levels increased for 25-34 days then declined to undetectable levels by approximately 75 days. Antigen specific antibody levels sharply declined in cattle treated 1 week prior to appearance of warbles in untreated controls. Treatment applied coincident with arrival of grubs on the back did not alter the antigen specific antibody profile, but reduced the relative magnitude of antigen specific antibodies present. Persistence of the antigen specific antibody following treatment will permit conduct of serological surveillance programmes.