Tropical bont tick (Amblyomma variegatum) eradication in the Caribbean. The St. Kitts experience.

Abstract

The tropical bont tick (TBT) was first identified in St. Kitts in 1978. Initially, infestation was observed on cattle that developed a severe dermatitis. Over a period of seven years, the TBT spread to most areas of the island, affecting cattle, sheep, and goats. The ruminant livestock population declined from, 6,000, 9,000, and 7,000 cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively, in 1984 to an estimated 400, 800, and 1,000, cattle, sheep, and goats in 1990. A project to control the tropical bont tick on St. Kitts was implemented in 1983. This effort was based on the use of plunge dips located in communal grazing areas. In October of 1995, the Caribbean Amblyomma Programme was initiated on St. Kitts to eradicate the TBT from the Caribbean. In 1996, there were 416 animal owners with 2,000, 4,300, and 4,000 cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively. Cases of dermatophilosis, declined from 657 in 1995 to 153 in 1996. During the period 1997 to 1998 treatment with Flumethrin continued. The Department of Agriculture initiated activities for treatment compliance, monitoring, and TBT surveillance. The animal population increased to 3,000, 6,000, and 4,500 cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively, and with 810 animal owners participating. The number of cases of dermatophilosis declined to 42. In 1998, the TBT was confined to three foci. The remainder of the island was declared provisionally tick free.