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ARS Home » Plains Area » Kerrville, Texas » Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory » LAPRU » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #334799
Research Project: Cattle Fever Tick Control and Eradication

Location: Livestock Arthropod Pests Research

Title: Integrated control of the southern cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, in Puerto Rico using new and alternative products

Author
item Miller, Robert
item SOLTERO, FRED - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item URDAZ, JOSE - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item Perez De Leon, Adalberto - Beto

Submitted to: Society for Tropical Veterinary Medicine
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/14/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Puerto Rico (PR) is plagued by the southern cattle fever tick (SCFT), Rhipicephalus microplus, which is considered the most economically important external parasite of livestock worldwide. A research coalition involving the livestock industry in PR, the PR Department of Agriculture (PR-DA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was established to develop an integrated SCFT control program. Safer technologies based on plant essential oil extracts and macrocyclic lactones have been combined in this study to alleviate the direct impact of SCFT, and its indirect effects as vector of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Novel anti-SCFT vaccine technologies, developed by the USDA-Agricultural Research Service Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory (USDA-ARS-KBUSLIRL) in collaboration with animal health industry partners have been pivotal to this project. This project aims to implement a SCFT vaccine with good acaricide management practices such as pesticide rotation and the use of novel pesticide formulations containing natural products that are safe for on lactating cows. This approach will greatly impact food safety and environmental health concerns, as the ecological impact and residue levels of synthetic acaricides in cattle products (such as milk) remains problematic. Through this project, dairy and beef cattle producers in PR will have access to an integrated tick control program allowing them to manage, in a sustainable manner, the economic impact of the SCFT on their operations as a result of the concerted efforts taking place between the animal health industry, and federal and state regulatory agencies.