The epidemiological and economic importance of fly infestation of meat and milk producing animals in Europe.

The importance of fly infestation in the transmission of disease and in the loss of production through "fly worry" to meat and milk producing animals is reviewed. As well as being confirmed disseminators of certain enteric diseases of man, eg, cholera, salmonellosis and colienteritis, flies have also been implicated in the transmission of mastitis and certain ophthalmic infections, principally keratoconjunctivitis in cattle. "Fly worry, particularly from biting flies such as Stomoxys calcitrans and Haematobia irritans, has been shown to have an adverse effect on meat and milk production since fly control greatly increases yields.