scholarly journals 126 Detection of fecal chemistry changes in cattle infested with the Southern Cattle Tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 54-54
Author(s):  
Brian T Rich ◽  
Pete D Teel ◽  
Donald B Thomas ◽  
Jay Angerer ◽  
Douglas R Tolleson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Tick Infestation ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
The United States ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Spectral Variation ◽  
Bovine Babesiosis ◽  
Near Infrared Reflectance ◽  
Cattle Fever Ticks

Abstract Bovine babesiosis, a highly fatal tick-borne disease of cattle, was eliminated from the United States in the last century through tick eradication programs against 2 species of cattle fever ticks. The threat to the U.S. cattle industry continues through tick introductions from Mexico. The standard method of detecting Cattle Fever Ticks [Rhipicephalus (B.) annulatus and R. (B.) microplus] in the state-federal tick eradication program is physical examination of restrained cattle to find attached ticks. New methods of detecting tick-infested cattle could improve reliability and reduce animal stress. The objective of this study was to determine whether changes in fecal chemistry induced by tick infestation was detectable using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). Fecal samples were collected daily from 6 stanchioned Bos taurus yearling heifers (initial mean weight 163.3 kg +/- 4.7 kg) at the USDA Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, Edinburg, TX, before, during, and after an infestation of 5000 R. (B.) microplus larvae. Cluster analyses were conducted using GRAMS IQ for NIR spectra in the 576–1126 nm range to test for fecal chemistry changes different from pre-infestation condition, and coincident with the biological phases of the tick infestation. The first three factors of spectral variation accounted for 87.87% of spectral variation among all samples. Factors 1, 2, and 3 had F-Ratios for the Reduced Eigenvalues of 941.59, 387.44, and 221.79, respectively. Three-dimensional analysis for these 3 factors shows shifts in sample clusters away from pre-infestation and coincident with progressive tick blood-feeding and post-infestation recovery. We conclude that fecal NIRS may provide a tool for detection of tick-infested cattle; however, further testing is needed to determine the sensitivity of detection on cattle with varying levels of tick burden, and a protocol developed and evaluated for fecal sampling under field conditions

scholarly journals Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Larvae Collected From Vegetation in the Coastal Wildlife Corridor of Southern Texas and Research Solutions for Integrated Eradication

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 1305-1309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weste L A Osbrink ◽  
Allan T Showler ◽  
Veronica Abrigo ◽  
Adalberto A Pérez de León
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Babesia Bovis ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Bovine Babesiosis ◽  
Wildlife Corridor ◽  
Eradication Program ◽  
Cattle Fever Tick ◽  
Cattle Fever Ticks

Abstract The potential for reinvasion of the United States by cattle fever ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus and Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini), which remain established in Mexico, threatens the viability of the domestic livestock industry because these ticks vector the causal agents (Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina) of bovine babesiosis. The Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program safeguards the health of the national cattle herd preventing the reemergence of bovine babesiosis by keeping the United States free of cattle fever ticks. Here, the collection of free-living southern cattle tick, R. microplus, larvae by sweeping flannel flags over vegetation in the wildlife corridor of Cameron and Willacy Counties, TX, is reported. Finding R. microplus larvae on vegetation complements reports of infestations in wildlife hosts inhabiting the southern Texas coastal plains. Land uses and environmental conditions have changed since cattle fever ticks were eradicated from the United States by 1943. These changes complicate efforts by the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program to keep cattle in the United States free of the cattle fever tick disease vectors. Current scientific research on technologies that could be used for area-wide management of fever tick larvae in south Texas and how this could be applied to integrated eradication efforts are discussed.

scholarly journals Research on Integrated Management for Cattle Fever Ticks and Bovine Babesiosis in the United States and Mexico: Current Status and Opportunities for Binational Coordination

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria D. Esteve-Gasent ◽  
Roger I. Rodríguez-Vivas ◽  
Raúl F. Medina ◽  
Dee Ellis ◽  
Andy Schwartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Health ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
The United States ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Babesia Bovis ◽  
Common Interest ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Bovine Babesiosis ◽  
Cattle Fever Ticks ◽  
The U.S

Bovine babesiosis is a reportable transboundary animal disease caused by Babesia bovis and Babesiabigemina in the Americas where these apicomplexan protozoa are transmitted by the invasive cattle fever ticks Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Rhipicephalus(Boophilus) annulatus. In countries like Mexico where cattle fever ticks remain endemic, bovine babesiosis is detrimental to cattle health and results in a significant economic cost to the livestock industry. These cattle disease vectors continue to threaten the U.S. cattle industry despite their elimination through efforts of the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program. Mexico and the U.S. share a common interest in managing cattle fever ticks through their economically important binational cattle trade. Here, we report the outcomes of a meeting where stakeholders from Mexico and the U.S. representing the livestock and pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, and research institutions gathered to discuss research and knowledge gaps requiring attention to advance progressive management strategies for bovine babesiosis and cattle fever ticks. Research recommendations and other actionable activities reflect commitment among meeting participants to seize opportunities for collaborative efforts. Addressing these research gaps is expected to yield scientific knowledge benefitting the interdependent livestock industries of Mexico and the U.S. through its translation into enhanced biosecurity against the economic and animal health impacts of bovine babesiosis and cattle fever ticks.

scholarly journals Baculoviral Expression of Presumptive OP-Resistance Mutations in BmAChE1 of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and Biochemical Resistance to OP Inhibition

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 1318-1323
Author(s):  
Kevin B Temeyer ◽  
Kristie G Schlechte ◽  
William P McDonough
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Bovine Babesiosis ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Southern Cattle Tick ◽  
High Level ◽  
Tick Resistance

Abstract The southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini), transmits bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis, and is endemic to Mexico, Latin and South America. Rhipicephalus (B.) microplus infestations within the United States are a continuing threat to U.S. cattle producers. An importation barrier between Texas and Mexico keeps the ticks from re-entering the United States. All cattle imported into the United States are dipped in an organophosphate (OP) acaricide and hand inspected for presence of ticks. Tick resistance has developed to most available acaricides, including coumaphos, the OP used in the cattle dip vats. OP-resistance can result from one or more mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), resulting in production of an altered AChE resistant to OP inhibition. Previous research reported a large number of BmAChE1 mutations associated with OP resistance. We report baculovirus expression of recombinant tick BmAChE1 (rBmAChE) enzymes containing a single resistance-associated mutation, to assess their contribution to OP inhibition resistance. Surprisingly, of the naturally occurring BmAChE1 resistance-associated mutations, only D188G resulted in markedly reduced sensitivity to OP-inhibition suggesting that OP-insensitivity in BmAChE1 may result from the D188G mutation, or may possibly result from multiple mutations, each contributing a small decrease in OP sensitivity. Furthermore, an OP-insensitivity mutation (G119S) found in mosquitoes was expressed in rBmAChE1, resulting in 500-2000-fold decreased sensitivity to OP inhibition. Recombinant BmAChE1 with the G119S mutation demonstrated the lack of any structural prohibition to broad and high-level OP-insensitivity, suggesting potential increases in tick OP-resistance that would threaten the U.S. importation barrier to ticks.

Observations on the dispersal of larvae of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Can.)

1970 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 595-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. J. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Bovine Babesiosis ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Strong Winds

Dispersal of the larvae of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Can.) was studied in connection with problems of controlling and eradicating this pest and bovine babesiosis in New South Wales. Larval ticks were recovered by pressing flannelette-covered boards on to the pasture or litter surface, or sampling with cattle. Many of these larvae were capable of completing parasitic development.Strong winds were an important factor in determining the distance travelled, as the longest journeys in pasture were for the most part in the directions in which the larvae would have been carried by recorded strong winds. Much of the dispersal is accomplished when larvae are transferred from one grass blade to another moving in the wind, but a great number of airborne larvae were captured on tanglefoot-covered traps. Movement by wind was clearly demonstrated over short pasture, up to 100 ft and possibly as far as 260 ft from the point of hatching. In long grass one larva travelled 83 ft, but in scrub and forest the greatest distance travelled was 15 ft. Many larvae that travelled long distances were capable of completing development on cattle.Tick larvae could be transported by casual hosts and then dropped in a viable condition. A horse carried larvae for 900 ft, a rat and cockerels 100 ft, a magpie in flight 600 ft, and a pigeon in flight half a mile. A horse dipped six days earlier in ethion dropped live and viable larvae after transporting them 150 ft.Security has been improved against the movement of larvae from the Cattle Tick Research Station, Wollongbar, New South Wales, to neighbouring properties, and from Queensland into New South Wales, by widening existing buffer zones to 330 ft. Inspectoral staff are now required to spray themselves and their horses before re-entering New South Wales from the buffer zone.

The spelling of pasture in cattle tick control

1957 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 414 ◽  
Author(s):  
PR Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Field Trial ◽  
Tick Infestation ◽  
Tick Control ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Cattle Tick Control

When two comparable herds of cattle were kept continuously in adjoining paddocks, frequent acaricidal treatment was necessary to control ticks (Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) ). Thereafter, one of the two herds was grazed alternately in its own and an adjacent paddock, the intervals between each transfer being sufficient to ensure that most of the ticks in the unoccupied paddock had died. Tick infestations on this herd were greatly reduced, and less frequent use of acaricides was necessary. The herd remaining in the continuously stocked pasture continued to need acaricidal treatment for recurring tick infestation. In a field trial with 350–400 cattle moved a t intervals to each of three formerly heavily infested paddocks, tick infestations remained very light, although the herd was dipped only In January, September, and the following January. A control herd on continuously stocked pasture, treated at the owner's discretion, required eight dippings in this period. This procedure of "pasture spelling" seems likely to be widely applicable in central Queensland.

scholarly journals Evaluation of non-invasive bioforensic techniques for determining the age of hot-iron brand burn scars in cattle

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas R Tolleson ◽  
David W Schafer
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Skin Surface ◽  
The United States ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Near Infrared Reflectance ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Discriminant Analyses ◽  
Validation Set

Abstract Hot-iron branding is a traditional form of permanent cattle identification in the United States. There is a need for science-based determination of cattle brand age. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used to obtain information about animal tissues and healing processes. Height-width allometry and NIRS were applied to hot-iron cattle brand scars to determine if either or both of these methods can be used to non-invasively establish the interval since application of hot-iron cattle brands. Length and width of a brand routinely applied to calves (~30 to 60 d old) were established and then the same measurements were recorded on 378 calfhood branded cattle of known age ranging from 0.5 to > 6.5 yr-of-age. Brand width and height increased over the original measurements by > 100% between calfhood application and 2.5 yr-of-age (P < 0.001). Brand size did not change dramatically between 2.5 and > 6.5 yr, however, both width and height were (P < 0.05) greater at maturity than at weaning. Near infrared spectra were collected from: a) branded skin b) non-clipped (hair), non-branded skin, and c) hair clipped, non-branded skin on Bos taurus cross calves. Individual trial calibrations yielded high R 2 and low SE of calibration values as well as similar cross validation performance (P < 0.001). Numerically lower but still strong performance (P < 0.001) resulted from combined data set calibrations. Cross-trial prediction of brand age was unsuccessful. One single year calibration underpredicted (P < 0.001) brand age of an independent validation set by 2.83 d, and another single year calibration underpredicted (P < 0.001) the same validation set by 9.91 d. When combined, these two datasets resulted in a calibration that overpredicted brand age in the validation set by 6.9 d (P < 0.02). Discriminant analyses for identification of skin surface type yielded success rates of 90% for branded, 99% for non-clipped, non-branded, and 96% for clipped, non-branded (P < 0.01). Discriminant analyses were also performed on samples grouped into: a) less than 33 d, b) 141-153 d, and c) 169 d categories. All group membership identifications were successful at greater than 90% (P < 0.01). Preliminary results indicate that brand size could be used to indicate brand age and that NIRS can predict brand age as well as discriminate between broad brand age groups in cattle. More work will need to be done before these techniques can be used in real-world forensic applications.

scholarly journals Alterations in Host Metabolism by the Specific and Anorectic Effects of the Cattle Tick (Boophilus Microplus) I. Food Intake and Body Weight Growth

1971 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 373 ◽  
Author(s):  
RM Seebeck ◽  
PH Springell ◽  
JC O'kelly
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Tick Infestation ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
Hereford Cattle ◽  
Anorectic Effect ◽  
Quality Diet ◽  
Host Metabolism

This experiment was designed to measure the effects of infestation by B. microplus on cattle and to separate the effects of reduced food intake ("anorectic effect") from those due to the remaining factors of tick infestation ("specific effect"). Hereford cattle kept on a high-quality diet were studied over a treatment period of 11 weeks with the tick-infested animals being infested regularly with equal larval doses for each animal.

Natural occurrence of lethal aspergillosis in the cattle tickRhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus(Acari:Ixodidae)

Parasitology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. MIRANDA-MIRANDA ◽  
R. COSSIO-BAYUGAR ◽  
F. MARTÍNEZ-IBAÑEZ ◽  
R. CASASANERO-ORDUÑA ◽  
J. FOLCH-MALLOL
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Experimental Infection ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungus ◽  
18S Rrna ◽  
Tick Infestation ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Natural Occurrence ◽  
Dark Colour ◽  
Microscopic Morphology

SUMMARYThe purpose of this study was to describe an unreported entomopathogenic fungus that naturally infects the cattle tickRhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus(Acari: Ixodidae). Engorged female ticks, showed symptoms of fungal infection after controlled tick infestation of cattle. Infected ticks developed a distinctive dark colour, a pale mould grew over the cuticle and the ticks eventually died covered with fungal conidiophores. The responsible fungus was isolated and cultured on mycological medium and submitted to microscopic morphology, biochemical phenotyping and 18S rRNA ribotyping analyses, which identified it as aflatoxin-producingAspergillus flavus. Spores from the cultured fungus were experimentally sprayed over healthy engorged female ticks, obtaining an 80% prevalence of experimental infection of healthy ticks and their egg masses, the larval progeny after incubation under laboratory conditions was also infected. These results demonstrate thatA. flavusis the causative agent of the natural fungal disease of the cattle tickR. microplusdescribed here.

scholarly journals Alterations in Host Metabolism by the Specific and Anorectic Effects of the Cattle Tick (Boophilus Microplus) II. Changes in Blood Composition

1971 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 381 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC O'kelly ◽  
RM Seebeck ◽  
PH Springell
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Tick Infestation ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Blood Composition ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Anorectic Effect ◽  
Quality Diet ◽  
Host Metabolism

Changes in the blood composition of Hereford steers kept on a high. quality diet and infested with B. microplus were studied. The experiment was designed so that the effects on blood composition due to reduced feed intake ("anorectic effect") and those due to the remaining factors of tick infestation ("specific effect") could be independently estimated.

Observations on infestations of undipped cattle of British breeds with the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini).

1955 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 655 ◽  
Author(s):  
PR Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Tick Infestation ◽  
Adult Tick ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Cattle Tick ◽  
Skin Thickness ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
Thickness Measurements ◽  
Tick Resistance

A small herd of cattle infested with the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) was kept in a previously unstocked paddock for 11 months without treatment for tick infestation. Frequent examinations showed that widely differing numbers of ticks developed on the cattle. The "tick resistance" of one animal, which showed no adult ticks during the summer months, could only be accounted for by mortality of the larvae and nymphs on the animal, since as many larvae were seen on selected small areas of this animal as on some animals carrying many adult ticks. The animals grazed together and thus would encounter similar numbers of tick larvae. The degree of susceptibility to adult tick infestation showed negligible correlation with skin thickness measurements and was not related to coat length. Larvae reappeared on the cattle 6 weeks after the first stocking of the paddock in March. The animals became almost free of ticks for 2 weeks in August. Although larvae were most numerous in November-December, they gave rise to fewer adults than the earlier wave of larvae in September- October. Some of the cattle suffered from "tick-worry'' in October, but thereafter their condition improved without treatment.

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