Research Project: Characterization of the Invasion of the Cattle Fever Tick in West Africa and Evaluation of the Associated Threats for Livestock Health

Location: Livestock Arthropod Pests Research

Project Number: 3094-32000-039-071-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 1, 2014
End Date: Jul 31, 2019

Objective:
Determine the nature of the R. microplus species complex (i.e., history of inter-continental gene flow among these ticks). Identify the process involved in R. microplus invasion, including climatic adaption to arid subtropics, competition with endemic cattle ticks, influence of pathogenic landscape, and collection of ticks for identification of local biological control agents.

Approach:
Conduct field work in West Africa to determine the genetic and ecological factors influencing the invasion of cattle fever ticks.