A detector dog for screwworms (Diptera: Calliphoridae).
A male German wirehaired pointer, Canis familiaris L., was trained to search for and locate screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel); pupae; and animals infested with screwworms. The command, "find it" led to the detection of a screwworm-infested animal and the command "search" led to the detection of screwworm pupae. After approximately 5 mo of training, the dog could detect screwworm-infested animals. After 3 mo more of training, the dog could detect screwworm pupae. Through 7 August 1989, the dog had a success rate of 100% (265 tests) with training dummies and 94.7% (18 successes for 19 tests) with screwworm-infested animals, for an overall success rate of 99.7% (285 successes for 286 tests). Use of detector dogs at quarantine stations could result in increased efficiency, economic savings, and decreased possibility of reintroduction of screwworms into eradicated areas.
Welch
J B
JB
Screwworm Research, USDA-ARS, San José, Costa Rica.
D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D011679:Pupa; D012610:Screw Worm Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012903:Smell