Ecology of the cattle tick (Boophilus microplus) in subtropical Australia. III. Modelling populations on different breeds of cattle

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 309 ◽  
Author(s):  
AS Bourne ◽  
RW Sutherst ◽  
ID Sutherland ◽  
GF Maywald ◽  
DA Stegeman

The numbers of cattle ticks, Boophi1us microplus, were counted on cattle, with different Bos indicus (zebu) content in central and southern Queensland, from November 1977 to May 1982. Concurrently, measurements were made of the survival rates of parasitic stages of the tick and of the success of free-living stages in producing larval progeny. These measurements were related to the tick burdens on the cattle in order to test current understanding of the ecology of the tick.Tick numbers increased exponentially with decreasing Bos indicus content. Tick numbers built up very rapidly on the Bos taurus cattle and resulted in deaths early in the first season, so the herd was replaced with animals of 25% zebu content. The pure zebu animals carried an average of five ticks per animal per day in central Queensland and only one in southern Queensland. The 50% zebu herds carried 65 ticks per day in central Queensland and 1 l in southern Queensland, compared with 79 and 37 on the 25% zebu herds at the two locations. During their brief time in the experiment the B. taurus animals carried 465 and 302 ticks per day in central and southern Queensland respectively.The observed tick infestation levels were estimated to cause annual losses of liveweight gain of 1, 14 and 17 kg in zebu, 50% zebu and 25% zebu animals respectively in central Queensland. Comparative figures for southern Queensland were 0, 2 and 8 kg. Compensatory liveweight gain would have reduced these losses by up to 6 kg. These data relate to animals which were breeding most of the time and hence were less resistant than dry cattle. The results indicate that B. microplus has been reduced to a marginal problem on animals with 50% zebu genes in the region. It is therefore difficull to justify any control measures in southern areas, particularly when they could increase the risk of babesiosis. Owners of B. taurus cattle will continue to be at risk of major losses in productivity.Changes in the tick burden on the herd5 were explained mostly by changes in survival rates of parasitic ticks in central Queensland and by changes in availability of larvae on the pastures in southern Queensland.

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
RW Sutherst ◽  
GF Maywald ◽  
AS Bourne ◽  
ID Sutherland ◽  
DA Stegeman

The resistance to the cattle tick, Boophilus mircoplus, of four herds of cattle with different Bos indicus (zebu) content, grazed at each of two locations in the subtropics of Queensland, Australia, was measured using artificial tick infestations at intervals of either 2 or 6 months over periods of up to 4 years. The factors affecting resistance of crossbred herds at each location in order of decreasing importance were the proportion of R. indicus genes, lactation, age interacting with nutritional conditions, a seasonal cycle which differed in timing at the two locations, and rainfall during the week of tick infestation. These variables accounted for 62% of the observed variation and the statistical model explained concurrent changes in resistance of other herds equally well. These findings are combined with data on the survival of freeliving stages of the ticks in a later paper to explain the observed variation in populations of cattle ticks on the untreated herds when grazing in separate pastures.


2008 ◽  
Vol 126 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 110-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily K. Piper ◽  
Louise A. Jackson ◽  
Neil H. Bagnall ◽  
Kritaya K. Kongsuwan ◽  
Ala E. Lew ◽  
...  

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
RW Sutherst ◽  
ID Sutherland ◽  
AS Bourne ◽  
GF Maywald ◽  
DA Stegeman

An experiment is described which compared the fluctuations in the numbers of cattle tick, Boophilus miicroplus, that resulted from direct climatic effects or from changes in host resistance. Four herds of cattle, matched for tick resistance and with different Bos indicus (zebu) content, were grazed at each of two locations, one in central Queensland (23� S.) and one in southern Queensland (28� S.), from November 1977 to May 1982. Natural tick populations were counted regularly, and host resistance was measured using artificial infestations, either twice or six times a year. Concurrent exposures of engorged ticks in pastures were used to measure the success of the ticks in producing larvae and to partition mortality during development. Two later papers report other aspccts of the experiment. These include observations on the resistance of cattle to ticks and on the relationship between tick numbers on the cattle on one hand, and the availability of larvae on pasture and survival of parasitic stages on the other. Engorged ticks produced more larvae throughout the year in central Queensland, despite laying fewer eggs. The colder and longer winter in southern Queensland greatly reduced tick reproduction. Failure of engorged ticks to survive predation and find a favourable oviposition site, egg mortality and loss of larvae in the pasture accounted for most of the reduction in the potential number of larvae produced. Reduced oviposition was also important in wintcr.


1983 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 317 ◽  
Author(s):  
RW Sutherst ◽  
GF Maywald ◽  
JD Kerr ◽  
DA Stegeman

The effect of the tick Boophilus microplus on the liveweight of Bos indicus x B. tauvus steers was investigated using three levels of infestation during summer 1980, autumn-winter 1980 and summer 1981. Mean losses in liveweight per engorged female tick during each of the three periods were 0.72,0.47 and 1.52 gper tick respectively. The 1980 estimates were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that in summer 1981, and the losses were independent of tick density. The loss per tick was unaffected by a supplement of molasses and urea in the autumn-winter period. Compensatory growth of those steers whose earlier growth was retarded by poor nutrition or ticks was investigated by keeping all the steers tick-free during spring. The previous medium and high tick groups gained 5-6 kg per animal more than the low group. Non-supplemented animals recovered all of their 14 kg disadvantage compared with the supplemented group. Mean tick survival rates varied from 9% in summer 1980 to 25% in autumn and 2% in summer 1981. They were reduced at higher densities but were unaffected by the nutritional supplement. The large variation in losses in liveweight per tick on these animals on the same pastures at different times suggests that differences in published estimates are frequently due to animal variation rather than to nutrition, cattle breed or environment. Economic thresholds were calculated for a range of effects of ticks and of chemical control costs. With a mean loss of 0.6 g per tick and 1983 dipping costs of $A1.35, the economic threshold is 158 ticks engorging per day per animal, assuming a kill of 97 %.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Popara ◽  
Margarita Villar ◽  
Lourdes Mateos-Hernández ◽  
Isabel G. Fernández de Mera ◽  
José de la Fuente

Cattle ticks,Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, are a serious threat to animal health and production. Some ticks feed on a single host species while others such asR. microplusinfest multiple hosts. White tailed deer (WTD) play a role in the maintenance and expansion of cattle tick populations. However, cattle ticks fed on WTD show lower weight and reproductive performance when compared to ticks fed on cattle, suggesting the existence of host factors that affect tick feeding and reproduction. To elucidate these factors, a proteomics approach was used to characterize tick and host proteins inR. microplusticks fed on cattle and WTD. The results showed thatR. microplusticks fed on cattle have overrepresented tick proteins involved in blood digestion and reproduction when compared to ticks fed on WTD, while host proteins were differentially represented in ticks fed on cattle or WTD. Although a direct connection cannot be made between differentially represented tick and host proteins, these results suggested that differentially represented host proteins together with other host factors could be associated with higherR. microplustick feeding and reproduction observed in ticks fed on cattle.


2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Oliveira ◽  
Manoela da Silva ◽  
Lew Sprenger ◽  
Daniela Pedrassani

ABSTRACT: Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, known as the cattle tick, is a cause of great economic losses for dairy cattle farming because of its high frequency of occurrence and the difficulty in controlling it. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of Chenopodium ambrosioides extract on R. (B.) microplus. For this purpose, 125 females were selected and classified into five groups according to their weight, in order to ensure that the females used presented homogeneous weight. The treatments comprised 40 and 60% extracts of Chenopodium ambrosioides, distilled water, ethanol (70ºGL) and 12.5% amitraz. The extracts of C. ambrosioides (40 and 60%) showed effectiveness of 99.7 and 100% and higher percentages of dead females than the other treatments: 64 and 96%, respectively (p<0.001). In the groups exposed to distilled water and ethanol (70º GL), 92 and 88% of the females maintained oviposition. In the females exposed to 40 and 60% extracts, oviposition of 36 and 4% occurred, respectively. It was concluded that the extract of Chenopodium ambrosioides, at both concentration evaluated, had high efficiency against engorged females of cattle ticks.


2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juracy de Castro Borba Santos Júnior ◽  
John Furlong ◽  
Erik Daemon

O objetivo do trabalho foi analisar os métodos de controle do carrapato Boophilus microplus realizados em três fazendas representativas dos sistemas de produção de leite da Microrregião Fisiográfica Fluminense do Grande Rio, Rio de Janeiro, levando-se em consideração o manejo das fazendas, o grau de sangue Bos taurus e Bos indicus dos rebanhos, os fatores climáticos e a prevalência estacional do carrapato. Para efeito de avaliação, foi utilizada a contagem periódica de fêmeas ingurgitadas medindo entre 4,5 e 8mm, no antímero direito de 20% das vacas em lactação de cada fazenda, durante um ano. A diferença no manejo das pastagens, a composição genética dos rebanhos e as condições climáticas influenciaram a prevalência estacional de B. microplus. A maior lotação animal por hectare, o elevado "stand" vegetativo das pastagens e o maior grau de sangue B. taurus contribuíram para as maiores infestações de carrapatos nas fazendas. O controle de B. microplus realizado pelos proprietários teve importância secundária em relação as outras atitudes de manejo dos rebanhos. Ficou evidenciado o uso excessivo e ineficiente de produtos químicos para o controle de B. microplus nas fazendas. Para implantação de medidas de controle estratégico do B. Microplus, fazem-se necessários esforços para a transferência e adoção dos resultados de pesquisas disponíveis aos produtores rurais.


2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Alice Zacarias do Amaral ◽  
Márcia Cristina de Azevedo Prata ◽  
Erik Daemon ◽  
John Furlong

With the objective of encouraging the use of rabbits as alternative hosts for the cattle tick, four rabbits were infested on the ears and back. From the second day of infestation the developmental stages were observed. e duration of larval engorgement and changes were estimated between six and eight days in the region of the back and between 've and seven days in the pinna. e nymphal engorgement and changes occurred at approximately 10.80 ± 2.65 days in the dorsal and 11.00 ± 2.52 days in the ear, with the engorgement of adults and copulation occurring at 7.03 ± 2.45 days, on the dorsal region and 8.55 ± 1.82 days in the region of the pinna. e parasitic period ranged from 21 to 29 days (back) and from 23 to 30 days (pinna). e engorged females of the back and ear weighed on average 34.43 ± 18.73 and 36.30 ± 18.10 mg, respectively. e nutritional and reproductive e/ciency indexes were 17.38 ± 14.27 and 26.85 ± 17.13% (back) and 17.42 ± 12.22% and 30.70 ± 19.80% (pinna). Although not appropriate to maintain successive generations of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, rabbits can be used for di:erent stages of engorgement of the ixodid, allowing experimental studies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 879-888
Author(s):  
Jaqueline P. Medeiros ◽  
Wanessa C. Bortollucci ◽  
Eloisa S. Silva ◽  
Herika L.M. Oliveira ◽  
Caio F.A.A. Campo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Brazil has one of the largest commercial cattle herds in the world, which naturally coexist with an enormous number of parasitic species. Southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, is among these species, interfering with animal productivity and causing losses to the beef and dairy cattle sector. The use of chemical acaricides in the control of this mite has resulted in the emergence of resistant populations. In this sense, alternative control measures using plants as sources of botanical acaricides have shown to be effective. Eugenia pyriformis Cambess is a Brazilian plant with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity; however, there are no reports on its acaricidal activity in the literature. The present study aimed to evaluate the acaricidal and larvicidal potential of E. pyriformis leaf essential oil (EO) on southern cattle tick at different stages of the reproductive cycle. E. pyriformis leaves were collected and dried, and had their EO extracted by hydrodistillation (3h) using a modified Clevenger apparatus. Chemical analysis was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and 32 compounds belonging to the sesquiterpene class were identified: hydrocarbons (17.98%) and oxygenated forms (81.96%), with spathulenol (43.65%) and caryophyllene oxide (12.17%) as the most common. The EO was evaluated by the Adult Immersion Test at the concentrations (500.00 to 3.12mg/mL) in which the following parameters were measured: mortality of females (%), hatchability of eggs (%), and product efficiency (%). Larvae were assessed by the Larval Packet Test at concentrations ranging from 25.00 to 0.00004mg/mL. Lethal concentrations (LC) required for killing 50 and 99.9% of adult females and larvae were determined using Probit analysis. LC50 and LC99.9 of EO were 0.06 and 24.60mg/mL and 1,208.80 and 2,538mg/mL for larvae and adult females, respectively. Action of the EO in the free-living cycle of R. (B.) microplus larvae was another parameter assessed. To this end, the larvae were deposited in pots containing Brachiaria decumbens and, after migration to the leaf apex, a solution containing LC99.9 (24.60mg/mL) of the EO was sprayed. After 24h, 72.25% of the larvae had died, indicating stability of the EO when subjected to uncontrolled temperature and humidity conditions. The mechanism of action through which the EO killed the larvae and adult females was investigated by the Bioautographic Method, which showed inhibition of 3.15mg/mL of the EO on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme. The results found in the present experiment indicate that E. pyriformis essential oil is an alternative in the control of southern cattle tick in the larval (parasitic) and free-living cycle (non-parasitic) stages under field conditions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Casquero Cunha ◽  
Renato Andreotti ◽  
Fábio Pereira Leivas Leite

The cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is responsible for great economic losses. It is mainly controlled chemically, with limitations regarding development of resistance to the chemicals. Vaccines may help control this parasite, thereby reducing tick pesticide use. In this light, we performed subcloning of the gene of the protein Bm86-GC, the homologue protein that currently forms the basis of vaccines (GavacTM and TickGardPLUS) that have been developed against cattle ticks. The subcloning was done in the pPIC9 expression vector, for transformation in the yeast Pichia pastoris. This protein was characterized by expression of the recombinant Mut+ strain, which expressed greater quantities of protein. The expressed protein (rBm86-CG) was recognized in the Western-blot assay using anti-Gavac, anti-TickGard, anti-larval extract and anti-rBm86-CG polyclonal sera. The serum produced in cattle vaccinated with the antigen CG rBm86 presented high antibody titers and recognized the native protein. The rBm86-GC has potential relevance as an immunogen for vaccine formulation against cattle ticks.


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