Fluctuation numbers of stable fly attacking to reindeer and incidence of grooming activities of reindeer reared in a zoo after flumethrin 1% formulation treatment

Abstract

At zoos in Japan, reindeers have been attacked by stable fly and be affected thereby. Flumethrin is known as an effective formulation against horn fly and cow ticks. We counted the numbers of stable fly attacking reindeer and incidences of grooming behavior in reindeer at Akita Omoriyama Zoo. We applied 10 ml of flumethrin 1% formulation to the limbs and abdomens of three male reindeer by spraying. In the three days before treatment and on the third and twelfth days after treatment, we observed the grooming behavior at every minute from 10:00 to 15:00, and counted the number of stable fly on the reindeer body surface visually and from a video camera. Compared with three days before treatment, using the Mann-Whitney test, the maximum number of stable fly and shivering action of reindeer at the third day after treatment decreased significantly (p<0.05), and the incidence of feeding behavior increased significantly (p<0.05). The duration time of feeding behavior was significantly increased on the third and twelfth days after application (p<0.05). The grooming behavior results showed good confirmation of Kondo et al. (1994).