Location: Cattle Fever Tick Research Unit
Project Number: 3094-32000-042-022-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2018
End Date: Apr 30, 2022
Objective:
Use a 1% doramectin product and a Bm86-based anti-cattle fever tick vaccine to address knowledge gaps regarding the interaction between a 1% doramectin product and a Bm86-based anti-cattle fever tick vaccine, both of which are in use by the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program. A segment is being added which we anticipate will offer CFT researchers, the CFTEP, and stakeholders new information on the economic impacts of CFT outbreaks and the risks associated with range expansion of CFT infestations, which will in turn lead to more accurate estimates of agency costs to address tick outbreaks as well as the potential risks associated with CFT expansion back into the historic CFT range.
Approach:
The project will consist of two studies. One will be a standard barn stall trial in which stanchioned cattle will be infested with known amounts of tick larvae at regular intervals. The animals will be treated at the label rate with 1% doramectin, Bm86-based vaccine only, or the combination of 1% doramectin and Bm86-based vaccine. A fourth group will serve as untreated controls. Regular tick infestations will occur, and the number of engorged females will be collected and counted each day. A sub-sample of the daily collected ticks will be held for fertility and fecundity measurements. The study will terminate when the level of control drops below 90% for three consecutive days. The second study will have the identical experimental design except that the cattle will be held outside in a pasture under natural conditions. Cattle will be infested at regular intervals. Tick counts will be made weekly. Up to 10 engorged females will be collected from each animal and held in the incubator for fecundity and fertility determinations. The study will terminate when efficacy reaches below 90% for three consecutive days.
