Tick Control Products Research Articles

Opportunities for territorial development in the transisthmic corridor; baseline diagnosis in the region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca

Objective: The main objective was to know the current situation of livestock production, problems and potentialities, in the municipalities of Matías Romero, Santa María Petapa and San Juan Guichicovi, Oaxaca, located in the transoceanic corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Design/methodology/approach: The diagnosis was made in eight communities in the municipalities of Matías Romero, Santa María Petapa and San Juan Guichicovi, located north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region, Oaxaca. To determine the sample size, the formula suggested by (Snedecor and Cochran, 1967 and Rojas, 1979) was used. It indicates that the elements must be selected through a random draw with replacement, to define the population, the list of production units registered in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, whose universe is 215, from which, a sample of 41 units was taken. Results: 36% of the interviewees indicated that the ownership of their land is ejidal, 34% is communal and 30% is small property. The interviewed livestock producers develop their livestock activities on an average of 37 hectares. The production units with the smallest area are 8.5 hectares and those with the largest area are 140 hectares. Of the total number of interviewees, 78% provide themselves with water for cattle in the pasture or corrals, coming from rivers and streams, other sources are springs with 12% and dams with 10%. It is considered that the characteristics described provide adequate conditions for livestock. A problem that afflicts livestock in the tropics in the presence of Ixodoida spp, in addition to other types of Mites, the options and alternatives to combat the tick in the PRODETER territory are through the bathroom, regularly it is done by using spray backpack, also the use of Pour on (loin) and tick-killing baths. The misuse of tick control products has generated resistance and problems for farmers (Piña et al., 2017). More than half of the farmers do not participate in animal health campaigns, only 36% do participate. The animal health campaigns in which farmers participate in PRODETER are bovine tuberculosis and paralytic rabies, 24% respectively, tick control 20% and finally brucellosis with 16%. Leos-Rodríguez, (2008) in the work of economic and productive characterization of bovine cattle producers that make up the list of PROGAN beneficiaries in Mexico, observed that the percentage of producers that participated in campaigns against ticks, tuberculosis and brucellosis is above 91%. What is superior to what was found in this diagnosis. Limitations on study/implications: One of the main limitations was that the PRODETER Program was financed by the State for one year only and with that, in the first instance, it limited the intervention to see the effects and levels of adoption of the technological model in the Family Production Units Findings/conclusions: There is ignorance in the use of food supplements, so the development of calves, and the milk production and fertility of the cows, do not express the potential due to the lack of the necessary nutrients in the different productive stages. There is little use of the rangelands because the farmers ignore the practices to give maintenance, make divisions in the paddocks, so they do not rotate. Among the problems detected, the following stand out, among others: the lack of training, the lack of availability of technicians or experts to attend them, the cost of artificial insemination technology and the long periods between births, which causes calf production to decrease. Therefore, the lack of training in artificial insemination, stallion evaluation and crossbreeding systems for genetic improvement, limit the development of livestock with better quality standards in the region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. The diagnosis as such provides elements for the territorial development of livestock in the transoceanic corridor, since it offers areas of opportunity throughout the production process and can satisfactorily help livestock in that region

In vitro acaricidal activity of essential oils and their binary mixtures against ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)

Ixodes scapularis ticks are vectors of infectious agents that cause illness in humans, including Lyme disease. Recent years have seen a surge in tick-borne diseases (TBD) resulting in a high demand for tick management products. Plants offer a valuable source of active compounds for the development of novel, eco-friendly tick control products, reducing potential risks to human and animal health. Essential oils (EOs) have emerged as potential acaricides and repellents against ticks providing an alternative to synthetic chemicals and aiding in the prevention of TBD by lowering the risk of tick bites. We investigated the acaricidal activity of EOs from lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), geranium (Pelargonium x asperum), savory thyme (Thymus saturejoides), and white thyme (Thymus zygis) on I. scapularis. The interactions (i.e., synergistic, antagonistic, or additive) of their binary mixtures were also evaluated. EO samples were analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine their chemical composition. The adult immersion test was used to determine the lethal concentration (LC50) of each EO alone and in mixtures. Quantitative assessment of synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effect of the binary mixtures was performed by calculating the combination index. Strong acaricidal activity was recorded for savory thyme and white thyme EOs, with LC50 values of 28.0 and 11.0 μg/μL, respectively. The LC50 of lemongrass and geranium EOs were 49.0 and 39.7 μg/μL, respectively. Among the tested EOs, savory thyme and white thyme had a strong acaricidal effect on I. scapularis, which might be linked to the presence of carvacrol (26.05 % ± 0.38) and thymol (53.6 % ± 2.31), main components present in savory thyme and white thyme EOs, respectively. The tick killing efficacy of lemongrass and geranium EOs was lower when mixed than when used separately (LC50 of 65.3 µg/µL). The same happened with savory thyme and white thyme EOs, except at 9.75 µg/µL where they had a synergistic effect (LC50 of 58.3 µg/µL). Lemongrass and savory thyme EOs had a synergistic effect at low concentrations, and an antagonistic effect at higher concentrations (LC50 of 95.4 µg/µL). Lemongrass and white thyme EOs had a synergistic effect against ticks from 15 to 120 µg/µL (LC50 of 18.5 µg/µL) similar to white thyme EO. Geranium and savory thyme EOs had an antagonistic effect at all concentrations, with an LC50 of 66.8 µg/µL. Geranium and white thyme EOs also had an antagonistic effect, except at 12.7 µg/µL where they had a synergistic effect (LC50 of 66.8 µg/µL). The interaction observed when combining selected essential oils suggests promising potential for developing acaricidal formulations aimed at controlling ticks and curbing the transmission of tick-borne disease agents.

Novel tick glutathione transferase inhibitors as promising acaricidal compounds

Ticks are important ectoparasites with a worldwide distribution. The most commonly used method for tick control involves the use of acaricides. The main problem is that its indiscriminate use has led to the selection of resistant tick populations. Glutathione transferases (GSTs) are enzymes that play an important role in the detoxification of several types of compounds used in commercial tick control products. This work aims to find new bioactive molecules through in vitro assays with a panel of 160 molecules with putative inhibitory activity on the Rhipicephalus microplus GST enzyme (RmGST). Also, selected molecules were tested against GSTs from other tick species; Rhipicephalus decoloratus, Amblyomma variegatum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, and Haemaphysalis longicornis. The first screening on RmGST identified 30 compounds with the ability to modify the enzymatic activity of this enzyme. These compounds included different chemical families, like chalcones, diarylideneketones, flavone, thiazoles, thiourea, steroids, thiadiazines, indazoles, and hydrazine. The most potent compounds against RmGST belong to the diarylideneketones family with an inhibition concentration of 50% of activity (IC50) between 7-50 μM. Interestingly, one of the most potent compounds was also an inhibitor of the GST from other tick species. Experiments with R. microplus adults and larvae showed toxicity at 150 μM, suggesting a potential acaricidal effect of these molecules.

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding tick-borne disease prevention in Lyme disease-endemic areas of the Upper Midwest, United States

Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases are a major public health threat in the Upper Midwestern United States, including Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. To prevent tick bites and tick-borne diseases, public health officials commonly recommend personal protective measures and property management techniques. Adoption of tick-borne disease prevention behaviors and practices by individuals are, however, highly variable. We aimed to characterize current tick-borne disease knowledge, attitudes, and prevention behaviors (KAB) practiced by the public in these states, as well as their willingness to use specific tick control methods. We conducted a population-based survey in summer 2019 in 48 high-risk counties (those having a five-year average (2013–2017) Lyme disease incidence of ≥ 10 cases per 100,000 persons per year), in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. A total of 2713 surveys were analyzed; survey weights were used to account for household selection probability and post-stratified to match county-level joint age and sex population distributions in population-level inference. An estimated 98% of the population had heard of Lyme disease, with most perceiving it as very or extremely serious (91%); however, only an estimated 25% perceived tick-borne diseases as very or extremely common in their community. Among those who spent time in places with ticks from April through October, an estimated 68% check themselves thoroughly for ticks most of the time or always and 43% use bug repellent on skin or clothing most of the time or always. An estimated 13% of the population had ever treated their property with a pesticide to kill ticks, and 3% had ever used devices that apply pesticide to rodents to kill ticks on their property. Willingness to practice tick bite prevention behaviors, however, was estimated to be much higher; with 82% being willing to perform tick checks at least once a day, and more than 60% willing to use bug repellent, tick control products on pets, or to bathe within two hours of being outdoors. We found that residents would likely be willing to support a county-wide tick control program to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease in their community (81%) or to apply tick control products to their property to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease in their household (79%). Tick checks were more likely to be practiced among participants who perceived tick-borne diseases to be highly prevalent in their community, if they or a household member had been previously diagnosed with a tick-borne disease?, or if they perceived tick exposure to be likely around their home, cabin, or vacation home. In addition, property-based tick control methods were associated with perceived risk of encountering ticks around the home, cabin, or vacation home. Participants who had seen information from state health departments were also more likely to practice preventive measures. The most common reported barriers to using any of these methods were forgetfulness, safety concerns, and lack of awareness. Our survey findings shed light on how residents from these Upper Midwest states may adopt tick control and tick bite prevention measures and how public health outreach may be most effective for this population.

Caracterização do conhecimento de pecuaristas gaúchos da serra do sudeste sobre o carrapato Rhipicephalus microplus

The purpose of this research project was to determine knowledge of the Rhipicephalus microplus tick among seventy cattle ranchers in the Caçapava do Sul and Lavras do Sul municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul State, through completing a structured questionnaire. The replies to the questions on the land areas covered by the properties show that 27%, 26%, 21.5%, 20% and 5.5% cover more than 500 hectares, between 150 and 300 hectares, between 300 and 500 hectares, between 50 and 150 hectares, and under 50 hectares, respectively; 75% of the ranchers are raising more than 100 head of cattle; 84.3% have cultivated grazing pastures and 15.7% have only native grasslands; 87.14% of the ranchers rated bovine babesiosis as the main tick-borne disease, and 76% checked out tick control products recommended by veterinarians. They mentioned 13 formulations and/or associations of tick control products. The tick control biogram test is a new tool for 58.6% of these cattle ranchers. Producers use late control, based on tick control chemicals.

Spray Safe, Play Safe: Story-Based Films Increase Homeowner Confidence About Backyard Tick Management.

Lyme disease incidence is increasing in the United States despite myriad efforts to educate individuals about effective prevention practices to reduce exposure to nymphal Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) (blacklegged tick), the primary vector of the pathogen causing Lyme disease. Furthermore, Lyme prevention educational needs currently exceed the ability of public health professionals to deliver the information in person. Past work has shown there is especially high confusion regarding the use of acaricides for tick management by homeowners. Story-based education is known to engage individuals and change behaviors. To increase the reach and engagement regarding Lyme disease prevention practices, especially residential acaricide use, we created short, story-based educational films (Spray Safe, Play Safe) and evaluated their educational benefit with a survey pre- and post-viewing. We determined that after viewing the films, a significantly higher percentage of respondents reported increased confidence in identifying the riskiest areas in their yards for ticks, using personal protective measures to prevent tick bites, using tick-safe landscaping, and using tick control products. This study also suggests that using short, engaging films that can be posted to popular websites and social media outlets could be employed more frequently for successful and engaging Lyme disease education, as creative and up-to-date educational methods are needed.

Development of essential oil-based phyto-formulations to control the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus using a mixture design approach

The cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is one of the most important ectoparasites for livestock in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. This tick economically impacts cattle production by reducing weight gain and milk production. Moreover, it is a vector of pathogens causing diseases such as babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Conventional tick control relies mainly on the use of chemical acaricides; however, their intensive use has led to the rapid appearance of resistant tick populations. It is therefore necessary to look for alternative tick control products. In that sense, plant extracts might represent a promising source of new acaricides. Previously, we reported a significant acaricide effect of essential oils from selected plant species. In the present study, we used a mixture design approach to develop phyto-formulations by combining individual essential oils. We produced several mixtures at 10% containing different proportions of individual essential oils (ranging from 0 to 1) from cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and allspice (Pimenta dioica) and tested their acaricidal activity against R. microplus ticks by means of larval packet test (LPT) and adult immersion test (AIT) assays. The optimal mixture predicted against R. microplus was composed of 66%, 17% and 17% of essential oils from C. zeylanicum, C. cyminum and P. dioica, respectively. We generated an estimated response surface contour plot that estimates 80%–100% acaricidal efficacy. In the optimal mixture 34 compounds were identified, which represent 98.65% of the total composition, with cinnamaldehyde (37.77%), β-caryophyllene (13.92%), methyl eugenol (12.27%) and cuminaldehyde (8.99%) being the major components. Next, we developed emulsions by combining the optimal mixture with several surfactants and determined particle size, Zeta potential, stability and bioactivity. Emulsions containing 2% and 5% Tween 20 or Tween 80 remain stable after 14 days at 54 °C. Finally, optimized emulsion retained a high acaricidal activity against larval and adult R. microplus ticks. Taken together, our findings showed the usefulness of mixture design method for the development of essential oil mixtures with potent acaricidal activity. These formulations have the potential to successfully control tick infestations.

Update on flea and tick associated diseases of cats

There are multiple vector-borne diseases in cats, the most prominent being those transmitted by mosquitos, sand flies, fleas, and ticks. Many of the agents vectored by fleas or ticks have been grown or amplified from blood or have induced antibodies in the serum of normal cats or those with clinical signs like fever and will be the focus of this manuscript. As high as 80% of fleas collected from cats contain at least one organism that could induce illness in cats or people. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp., hemoplasmas, and Rickettsia spp. infect cats and can be associated with clinical illness. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi are transmitted by Ixodes spp., Ehrlichia spp. and A. platys are transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Fleas vector Bartonella spp., hemoplasmas, and R. felis. Recently, R. typhus was detected in cats in Spain. Lethargy and fever are common findings in cats with flea and tick borne diseases. Hemoplasmas are associated with hemolytic anemia. Moderate thrombocytopenia is associated with the tick-vectored agents. Polymerase chain reaction assays performed on blood collected in the acute phase of infection can be used to prove presence of the organisms. Doxycycline at 5 mg/kg, PO, twice daily or 10 mg/kg, PO, daily can be effective for resolving the clinical signs. If doxycycline is ineffective or not tolerated, fluoroquinolones can be effective for treatment of clinical illness associated with Bartonella spp., hemoplasmas, and Rickettsia spp. Use of flea and tick control products is effective for blocking transmission of many of the agents.

Itching for change: Embracing modern flea and tick product development

The development and regulatory approval of ectoparasiticides, including flea and tick control products, involves decades-old methods and the use of large numbers of animals to evaluate toxicity and efficacy. Animals also are used to rear (breed and feed) fleas and ticks for later use in testing. Non-animal methods for regulatory-required testing and rearing currently exist and, with further development, others could soon become available. Here we provide an overview of the state-of-the-science of non-animal methods for rearing and regulatory-required efficacy testing of flea and tick control products. Several remaining challenges as well as recommendations on the steps needed to replace animals in the evaluation of these products are discussed.

Pet ownership increases human risk of encountering ticks.

We examined whether pet ownership increased the risk for tick encounters and tickborne disease among residents of three Lyme disease-endemic states as a nested cohort within a randomized controlled trial. Information about pet ownership, use of tick control for pets, property characteristics, tick encounters and human tickborne disease were captured through surveys, and associations were assessed using univariate and multivariable analyses. Pet-owning households had 1.83 times the risk (95% CI=1.53, 2.20) of finding ticks crawling on and 1.49 times the risk (95% CI=1.20, 1.84) of finding ticks attached to household members compared to households without pets. This large evaluation of pet ownership, human tick encounters and tickborne diseases shows that pet owners, whether of cats or dogs, are at increased risk of encountering ticks and suggests that pet owners are at an increased risk of developing tickborne disease. Pet owners should be made aware of this risk and be reminded to conduct daily tick checks of all household members, including the pets, and to consult their veterinarian regarding effective tick control products.

IRAC: Mode of action classification and insecticide resistance management

Insecticide resistance is a long standing and expanding problem for pest arthropod control. Effective insecticide resistance management (IRM) is essential if the utility of current and future insecticides is to be preserved. Established in 1984, the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) is an international association of crop protection companies. IRAC serves as the Specialist Technical Group within CropLife International focused on ensuring the long term efficacy of insect, mite and tick control products through effective resistance management for sustainable agriculture and improved public health. A key function of IRAC is the continued development of the Mode of Action (MoA) classification scheme, which provides up-to-date information on the modes of action of new and established insecticides and acaricides and which serves as the basis for developing appropriate IRM strategies for crop protection and vector control. The IRAC MoA classification scheme covers more than 25 different modes of action and at least 55 different chemical classes. Diversity is the spice of resistance management by chemical means and thus it provides an approach to IRM providing a straightforward means to identify potential rotation/alternation options.

Household chemical exposures and the risk of canine malignant lymphoma, a model for human non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

BackgroundEpidemiologic studies of companion animals offer an important opportunity to identify risk factors for cancers in animals and humans. Canine malignant lymphoma (CML) has been established as a model for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Previous studies have suggested that exposure to environmental chemicals may relate to development of CML. MethodsWe assessed the relation of exposure to flea and tick control products and lawn-care products and risk of CML in a case–control study of dogs presented to a tertiary-care veterinary hospital (2000–2006). Cases were 263 dogs with biopsy-confirmed CML. Controls included 240 dogs with benign tumors and 230 dogs undergoing surgeries unrelated to cancer. Dog owners completed a 10-page questionnaire measuring demographic, environmental, and medical factors. ResultsAfter adjustment for age, weight, and other factors, use of specific lawn care products was associated with greater risk of CML. Specifically, the use of professionally applied pesticides was associated with a significant 70% higher risk of CML (odds ratio(OR)=1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1–2.7). Risk was also higher in those reporting use of self-applied insect growth regulators (OR=2.7; 95% CI=1.1–6.8). The use of flea and tick control products was unrelated to risk of CML. ConclusionsResults suggest that use of some lawn care chemicals may increase the risk of CML. Additional analyses are needed to evaluate whether specific chemicals in these products may be related to risk of CML, and perhaps to human NHL as well.

Recent Advance in tick control

UNTIL recently, tick control had generally been considered an added bonus of some flea control products. However, due to a combination of increased mobility of dogs and cats following the...

CHARACTERISTICS AND PATTERNS OF RESIDENTIAL PESTICIDE USE ON LONG ISLAND, NY

ISEE-461 Introduction: The information currently available on residential pesticide use patterns and the characteristics of pesticide users is limited. Identifying characteristics associated with pesticide use that could be potential confounders of a pesticide-disease relationship is crucial in identifying appropriate data to be collected. Data from 1,556 control women from the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project, a population-based case-control study of the environment and breast cancer, were used to examine factors associated with residential pesticide use and patterns of reported residential pesticide application. Methods: From August 1, 1996, through July 31, 1997, English-speaking women who had never been diagnosed with breast cancer were randomly selected from both Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York State. An extensive residential pesticide-use section was included in the in-person, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Participants were queried about their pesticide usage patterns in and around their homes as well as their use of insect repellants, lice control products, and flea and tick control products on their pets. Additionally, information was collected on established and suspected breast cancer risk factors. Age-adjusted unconditional logistic regression models were used to determine whether each of the personal characteristics was associated with ever use of pesticides for either lawn and garden problems or nuisance pests. Results: Nearly all (96.3%) of the participants reported some pesticide use during their lifetime. Lawn and garden pesticides were used by 80% while 92.5% used pesticides for nuisance pests. Several of the personal characteristics examined were found to be associated with residential pesticide use. Women who were premenopausal, ever used hormone replacement therapy, ever used alcohol regularly or were ever regularly physically active were more likely to have used either lawn and garden pesticides or nuisance pest pesticides. A woman’s age, race or education was related to pesticide use for lawn and garden problems only. Among those with income information, higher income was associated with a higher likelihood of pesticide use for lawn and garden problems and nuisance pests. Adjustment for income attenuated odds ratios for other factors, indicating that socioeconomic status may account for some of the observed associations. Discussion: The extensive residential pesticide-use information collected in this study provides a great deal of insight into the residential pesticide use habits of women who live on Long Island, NY in addition to identifying personal characteristics that are related to pesticide use.

The vulnerability of the Australian beef industry to impacts of the cattle tick (Boophilus microplus) under climate change

An integrated assessment is presented of the potential impacts of the cattle tick (Boophilus microplus Canestrini) on the Australian beefindustry under climate change. The project was carried out as a case study to test an impact assessment approach that was designed to integrate biological, production and socio-economic impacts on managed and natural systems. A climate-driven, tick population model was run for European, zebu and crossbred cattle breeds having different levels of resistance to cattle ticks. A geographical information system (GIS) was used to organise spatial data on climate scenarios and industry statistics and to undertake regional analyses.A comparison was made of the two available approaches to conducting impact assessments, namely a bottom-up approach using sensitivity analysis and a top-down approach using climate change scenarios from a global circulation model (GCM) (CSIRO, 1996). The output, in terms of the abundance of tick populations and reductions in cattle productivity for each breed showed significant expansions in potential geographical impacts. In the absence of any adaptation measures, the results indicated changes in the losses in live weight gain of cattle tick ranging from 7780 tonnes per year by 2030 to 21637 tonnes per year by 2100, in comparison with estimates for current losses of 6594 tonnes per year.The principal adaptation options available to the beef industry are to switch to breeds that are more resistant to cattle ticks, or to increase the frequency of treatments with various tick control products. In this paper we focus on switching breeds as an adaptive measure when appropriate damage thresholds are triggered under the climate change scenarios. When adaptation measures were put in place, the losses ranged from 4962 tonnes in 2030 to 5619 tonnes in 2100 compared with 2636 tonnes at present if all producers adopted the optimal breed structure. Optimal breed structure was defined as one that would prevent tick numbers per animal exceeding 100 ticks per animal for European and 700 ticks per animal for crossbred breeds of cattle in any week of the year under a tick control strategy that was suitable for present climatic conditions. The lower threshold for European breeds reflects their vulnerability to explosive increases in numbers because of their low resistance to ticks. The results of the analyses using the GCM scenarios were used in an economic model to calculate costs of lost live-weight gain for 2030, 2070 and 2100. The greatest increases in costs were incurred in the southern parts of the current distribution in Queensland and potentially in northern New South Wales if the present quarantine barrier failed.Given the great uncertainty of the nature of possible regional changes in climate, analyses of the sensitivity of losses in live weight gain to changes in climatic variables were also undertaken. The analyses included a measure of likely impacts of cattle tick on the beef cattle industry, in the absence of adaptation measures, as a baseline measure of sensitivity. The likely impacts on crossbred cattle were insensitive to the climatic variables.When adaptive breed changes were allowed, the economic impacts on the industry were insensitive to the GCM scenarios. This suggests that, at least in this instance, reducing the uncertainties in climate change scenarios is not a priority if the adaptation strategies can be implemented in a cost-effective manner. Finally we made a qualitative assessment of the sustainability and robustness of alternative approaches to adaptation and assessed regional vulnerability to cattle tick under climate change. The conclusions were so strongly dependent on assumptions about the future of other global changes, in particular the ability to maintain quarantine barriers and to retain effective acaricides at comparable costs to the present, that we strongly recommend that risk assessments of climate change extend to all relevant variables in involved in global change where possible.