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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 #321482
Research Project: Cattle Fever Tick Control and Eradication

Location: Livestock Arthropod Pests Research

Title: Status of Nilgai antelope as a host of cattle fever tick (Boophilus microplus) and Babesiosis

Author
item Thomas, Donald
item Olafson, Pia
item DUHAIME, ROBERTA - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In 2014 an outbreak of cattle fever ticks, Boophilus microplus, was discovered in Cameron County Texas. It was suspected that the ticks had spread from Mexico into Texas carried by Nilgai antelope, a bovid game animal that ranges freely, across the river between Mexico and the US. Between 9 October 2014 and 7 March 2015, we examined 200 hunter-culled nilgai. Many of the nilgai were lightly infested with Amblyomma ticks which are common on deer and cattle in south Texas. Twelve of the 200 animals carried Boophilus microplus. Ten of the twelve animals were lightly infested, with 1-8 ticks. Two of the nilgai were heavily infested. An animal taken on 24 December had 29 ticks of which 7 were replete females. An animal taken on 26 October had 71 ticks of which 62 were adults including 12 replete females. None of the nilgai were seropositive for Babesiosis.