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Lia
cme” ¢? National Tick aoe Surveillance Program
Service
Yetomneny Calendar Year 1987
APHIS 91-39
USDA, National Agricultural Library AL Bldg 40301 Baltimore
Belisville, ML 20
“1 00 <<
National Tick Surveillance Program Calendar Year 1987
During calendar year 1987, the collection and submission of ticks from native and imported animals, plus plant and animal material, was 30.63 percent greater than in 1986. There were 10,214 collections in 1987, 7,819 collections in 1986, 5,037 in 1985, and 7,213 in 1984.
Antigua Pilot Tropical Bont Tick Eradication Project
During 1987 considerable progress was made in the organi- zation of a Caribbean-wide program to eradicate Amblyomma variegatum, the tropical bont tick, and its associated diseases (heartwater and acute dermatophilosis) from the area. In March 1987, the feasibility proposal written by experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), with the input of consultants from a number of inter- national organizations, was finished and widely distributed. It was discussed at a workshop held in Barbados, West Indies, in March, where representatives from many Caribbean Islands, USDA, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), IICA, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAQ), and other public and private organizations reviewed the document. The proposal described the present situation with the tick and diseases in the Caribbean. The group passed four resolutions: (1) establish an Amblyomma Program Council under the purview of the English-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM); (2) establish a pilot project to demonstate tick eradication techniques on an island;
(3) convene a donor’s conference; and (4) seek emergency support for current tropical bont tick control activities on infested islands.
In September 1987, the $2 million that Congress appropriated to USAID for a tropical bont tick program in the Caribbean was transferred to USDA in order to carry out a demonstra- tion tick eradication program on Antigua. This demonstration project has three main facets: (1) an eradication component to be carried out by the Office of International Cooperation and Development (OICD) and USDA; (2) a research, infor- mation, and evaluation component to be carried out by OICD-USDA; and (3) a policy and strategy component to be carried out by USAID. Some of the funds given to OICD- USDA will be transferred to ARS-USDA for research on the biology and control of the tropical bont tick in the Caribbean. Other research will be on the economic aspects of eradica- tion and the effects of the acaricides on wildlife.
The eradication component consists of four phases: (1) Planning Phase; (2) Preoperation Phase of 6 months, which includes education, training, surveillance, construction, and procurement; (3) Eradication Phase, which consists of appli- cation of acaricides (amitraz or permethrin) to all cattle, sheep, goats, and horses every 2 weeks for 2 years; and (4) Posteradication Phase, which consists of a followup surveil- lance for 6 months to determine if the ticks have been eliminated from the island. The eradication component is proposed to begin in 1988.
In November 1987, at a meeting in Rome, the Standing Committee of the Ministries of Agriculture of CARICOM established an Amblyomma Steering Committee. This committee will provide a focus for implementing a coordi- nated Amblyomma eradication program throughout the Caribbean.
Updated on Boophilus microplus Eradication in Puerto Rico
The USDA and Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture con- tinued their cooperative efforts to eradicate Boophilus microplus from the island. The program maintained an average of 9,000 premises under treatment (average number of animals per premise was 11). In excess of 2.5 million individual animal treatments were administered during the year.
The computerized field data system is in operation in two of the three eradication zones. The third system will be estab- lished by mid-1988. The system maintains such data as the location of the premises, number and type of animals, status in the treatment cycle, and changes in animal numbers or in the infestation status. The system permits program man- agers to rapidly assess the status of a premise, region, or the entire island. This allows more effective planning, budgeting, and execution of the eradication program.
The new eradication zone established last year is in full operation. Additionally, program success has allowed the Arecibo Region to move some resources forward into new areas toward the east. The other two regions (Guanica and Juncos) are expected to expand toward the center of the island in 1988. Approximately 7,000 premises were declared free during 1987.
Funding for the Boophilus eradication program, as in recent years, came from three sources: a Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) block grant, $8.6 million; Veterinary Services (USDA-APHIS-VS), $1.5 million; and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture (PRDA), $1.0 million. This cooperative funding permitted major purchases for the necessary program expansion and to retain the flexibility to meet day-to-day demands.
Status of Amblyomma variegatum in Puerto Rico
The main island of Puerto Rico is considered free of A. variegatum. A Commonwealth imposed quarantine is in effect for the smaller island of Culebra, where Amblyomma variegatum is known to be present. Treatment of livestock on Culebra is mandatory and performed on a routine basis, but rugged terrain has hampered the gathering of animals and slowed eradication efforts. Movement of animals off the island is permitted only when the shipment is going directly to slaughter and only following inspection to ensure tick-free status and application of a pesticide treatment.
Amblyomma variegatum Reintroduced in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Amblyomma variegatum, the tropical bont tick, was dis- covered on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, during July 1987. This tick had been considered eradicated since 1970, when the previous eradication program consisting of quarantine, rigorous individual animal treatment with coumaphos, and premises treatment with sprayable carbaryl came to an end. It is of interest that a few isolated male ticks were dis- covered sporadically on St. Croix after 1972, but no evidence of infestation or further spread could be found.
The current outbreak is limited to one area of about 31 acres of brush pasture on which cattle, horses, swine, dogs, and chickens roamed freely, as well as mongooses and a few head of deer. Several cattle had died of a condition resembling dermatophilosis. Clinical cases of dermatophilosis were subsequently observed. A 5-acre portion of the premise was found to be heavily infested and has been treated twice with sprayable chlorpyrifos.
Cattle, horses, swine, and dogs have been under quarantine and regular biweekly treatment with coumaphos. Cattle, swine, and chickens have now been removed from the premise. The biweekly scratch and treatment of all adjacent animals, as well as the trapping of chickens and mongooses for surveillance and elimination, is continuing. The hunting of deer has, thus far, been unsuccessful. The origin of this infestation is not clear.
Boophilus Research Highlights for 1987 from the Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, USDA, Agricultural Research Service
Kerrville and Mission, Texas
Research began several years ago on organophosphate (OP)-resistant Boophilus microplus from Mexico and continued with investigations on the biochemical mechanisms accountable for the altered susceptibility of the ticks to coumaphos and related acaricides. One study determined that in the resistant strain, which originated near Tuxtla, Chiapas, Mexico, two types of the enzyme acetyl- cholinesterase (AChE) were present. One form of AChE was prone to inhibition by OP’s, but the activity of the second form of AChE was less affected by these acaricides. These experimental results suggest that an altered AChE with decreased sensitivity to inhibition is probably an important factor in the altered susceptibility of the B. microplus in parts of Mexico to coumaphos, chlorfenvinphos, and related acaricides. A parallel investigation determined that in resistant ticks there was also enhanced metabolic detoxification of coumaphos and toxic metabolites of this compound.
As the age of tick larvae increases, the ticks undergo undetermined biochemical and physiological changes that
result in increased susceptibility to pesticides and lowered survival rates. It was hypothesized that a reduced quantity of AChE in older tick larvae is related to their increased susceptibility to acaricides. But, experimental evidence from investigations of the AChE of five species of ticks, including B. microplus, determined that in these ticks amounts of AChE actually increased with age.
Because of an apparent failure of amitraz to control B. microplus on cattle in the vicinity of Juncos, Puerto Rico, engorged females of this species were collected and shipped to the Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory for tests of their susceptibility. Groups of calves infested either with F; larval ticks from Puerto Rico or larvae of an amitraz- susceptible B. microplus strain from Texas were sprayed with 0.025 percent amitraz, prepared from the emulsifiable concentrate formulation. Initial comparisons of the degree of control of the Puerto Rico and Texas ticks indicated that the strain of ticks from Puerto Rico was as susceptible to amitraz as the ticks from Texas. This test was repeated with the second laboratory generation of ticks from Puerto Rico and a known amitraz susceptible strain of B. microplus from Texas. Once again, the test results indicated that the ticks from Puerto Rico were fully susceptible to amitraz.
A 0.025 percent concentration of amitraz wettable powder (WP), applied by immersing cattle in a dipping vat, controlled 99.8 percent of the B. annulatus on the animals. In addition to the evaluation of efficacy, a study was performed with the assistance of APHIS, VS personnel to determine the stability of the amitraz WP in a dipping vat under South Texas condi- tions. During a period of about 1 month, 4,056 head of cattle were dipped in an amitraz-charged vat. Test results demonstrated that the active ingredient settled very rapidly in the freshly charged vat, but that the amitraz remained in suspension longer as the amount of contamination in the vat increased. There was a tendency for the amitraz concentra- tion to increase slightly after each replenishment, but in general the evaluation demonstrated that in a ranch vat in which large numbers of cattle are being dipped, amitraz WP remains stable and the concentration of the active ingredient can be maintained at the targeted level.
Because of a need by tick eradication officials for an acaricide to prevent the hatching of larvae from eggs deposited on tick-infested premises, such as a sales yard, the ovicidal activity of coumaphos, diazinon, dioxathion, chlorpyrifos, and crotoxyphos against B. microplus eggs of different ages was determined. Test results proved that of the acaricides tested, only crotoxyphos, applied topically at a rate of 0.5 percent active ingredient, would provide sufficient ovicidal activity (=90 percent reduction in hatch) against eggs ranging in ages from 1 to 20 days for the compound to have value in premise cleanup activities.
Investigations to more precisely determine the suitability of white-tailed deer as alternate hosts for B. annulatus have
continued. Comparisons were made of the total number of adult female ticks recovered from deer and bovine hosts and of the associated ovipositional and reproductive parameters of these ticks. Significantly fewer ticks were recovered from deer (302) than from cattle (3,818). The difference was attributed to the more efficient grooming behavior of the deer. The mean weight of the female ticks collected from deer was significantly less than that of ticks from cattle (240.13 mg and 344.66 mg, respectively). About 15 percent of the engorged females recovered from the deer weighed less than 100 mg, and these ticks had probably been removed prematurely by grooming. A significant difference in the mean percent hatch of eggs from deer (65.22) and cattle (74.33) was observed. The index of reproduction (IR), a value that is based on the total number of engorged female ticks from a host, the mean weights of the egg masses from these females, and the mean percent hatch of the eggs was 19.7 times greater when cattle rather than white-tailed deer were hosts. It was concluded that the deer are biologically suitable hosts, but they are considerably less efficient host for B. annulatus than cattle.
The efficacy of a 20.2 percent emulsifiable concentrate formulation of the pyrethroid acaricide cyhalothrin was tested using two concentrations (0.007 percent and 0.01 percent) as a whole body spray against B. microplus on cattle. Based upon IR calculations, the 0.007 percent Al treatment provided 92.4 percent control and the 0.01 percent Al treatment provided 97.3 percent control. An evaluation of an “‘improved”’ cyhalothrin formulation has been scheduled.
Boophilus Tick Program in Texas
Tick eradication activities along the U.S.-Mexico border were successful in 1987. Thirty-four herds of Mexican livestock were apprehended by the Veterinary Services Tick Eradication Program employees along the Texas-Mexico border during this period. The herds totaled 26 cattle, of which 11 were infested with Boophilus ticks, and 22 horses which were free of cattle fever ticks. The total of 48 animals apprehended in 1987 compares to 74 Mexican animals apprehended in 1986.
The temporary preventative quarantine area in Cameron County was converted to a control purpose quarantine area to monitor livestock in the high-risk area. As a result, one premise was found infested with Boophilus ticks.
Three premises in the free area of Zapata County were found infested with cattle fever ticks in the vicinity of the previously infested Loma Llano Pasture. Range pasture conditions continued favorable due to adequate rainfall. Forage was abundant in most areas along the Texas-Mexico border.
Research Accomplishments for 1987 by Animal Diseases Research Unit (ADRU), USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, Washington, and Moscow, Idaho
Light and electron microscopes were used to obtain the first clear evidence that Anaplasma marginale infects tick salivary glands. Morphology of two strains of the parasite in salivary glands of three experimentally infected species of Dermacentor ticks suggests that the parasite replicates in this tissue before being introduced into cattle. If further studies confirm that the organism seen in the salivary glands represents the tick-transmitted stage of A. marginale, the antigenic profile of this stage can be characterized and unique antigens possibly included in a vaccine to protect cattle against tick-transmitted anaplasmosis.
A cloned DNA probe from the gene coding for an A. marginale surface polypeptide was used to detect A. marginale infections in individual tick tissues from three Dermacentor species. The DNA probe can detect all strains of A. marginale thus far tested, but does not cross-hybridize with A. centrale or A. ovis. Anaplasma marginale infection of Dermacentor tick salivary glands was confirmed with the DNA probe, revealing that the parasite was present before it could be detected microscopically and before it was infective for cattle.
Immunization of cattle with a purified A. marginale surface protein of 36,000 M.W. induced protection against both homologous and heterologous challenge. Cattle that did not develop infections were confirmed negative by DNA probe.
Experiments with unifested cattle and cattle infested with marked male/female Dermacentor ticks held together in indoor/outdoor pens revealed that approximately 30 percent of ticks recovered from the animals had transferred to new hosts. Interhost transfer by adult ticks may be an important means by which ticks transmit A. marginale in nature.
Anaplasma marginale-infected male Dermacentor andersoni held in packets off the host and in the field survived for 7 months and transmitted the parasite to susceptible calves after 121 days. The ticks appear to act as reservoirs of A. marginale through the summer and fall, but chronically infected vertebrate hosts appear to be the only significant overwintering reservoir of A. marginale.
Tick Identification and Vat Management Training Along United States-Mexico Border
Tick identification and vat management training was con- ducted May 18 through June 6, 1987, for the personnel along the United States-Mexico border from Brownsville, Texas, to San Ysidro, California. The training included 52 State and Federal animal health personnel actively engaged
in the importation of livestock from Mexico. The training and San Ysidro, California. Personnel from all the ports sites included Brownsville, Texas; Laredo, Texas; Del Rio, along the United States-Mexico border were represented at Texas; Presidio, Texas; El Paso, Texas; Nogales, Arizona; the training locations.
Maps and Tables Section
1861 AD S}SOH [IW WOs4 SUOIIE[|OD HOLL
USDA-APHIS
PERIOD HOST
REPORT OF TICKS COLLECTED
Calendar Year 1987 All Hosts Alabama 7 7 L | Alaska | ical [ Arizona 33 1 1 4 27 L L ait Arkansas 235| 205 6 1 2 21
California
Colorado 4 3 1 {4 Connecticut L + Delaware Ile Ne [ Florida 193] 117 37| 20 3 15 1
Georgia
Hawaii ue | |
Idaho | ‘ 3 1 1 1 | || — — Mlinois ieee 38) a ae 1 | } T
Indiana [beers 2 1 L | if |
lowa
Kansas 33 | 29] 1 3 | I Kentucky 3 2 1 + Louisiana 10 a) a Maine ol a pe + Maryland 3 1 2 fi ENR ES A a aR OP Massachusetts | Michigan 1 1 Minnesota =I | ll -t | Mississippi 38 27 9 2
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska 1 1 | all Nevada ul 1 1 AE New Hampshire Is IF [s New Jersey New Mexico 18 2 1 3 12 i New York 2 2 | iE al le North Carolina 19 7 1 11 = North Dakota 1 1 | | I
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania 1 1
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
a Tennessee 242| 207] 13 1{_ 18 3 | | | i Texas 1403 | 726 83} 310] 31 28 | 225 Utah | Vermont
pre ee en ae eee GES EE ae ee ee
itginia 4 4
ZI Washington I
— } = F
West Virginia
Wisconsin ih
Wyoming
Puerto Rico
7507} 5660 | 2| 1793 52
Virgin Islands VS FORM T-4 (APR 84)
ARIZONA
Douglas
Nogales
CALIFORNIA
San Ysidro FLORIDA
Miami GEORGIA
Atlanta ILLINOIS
Chicago MARYLAND 4
Baltimore NEW MEXICO
Columbus NEW YORK
Rock Tavern TEXAS
Brownsville
Del Rio Eagle Pass El Paso Hidalgo Laredo
Presidio
HOST Animals and Products Offered for Entry
USDA-APHIS | pERIOD
REPORT OF TICKS COLLECTED RAV RRR EE PSIG
2B0 5BO| 1BO* 1DG ———+
Key to Host
BO Cattle OS Ostrich h Amblyomma hebraeum DG Dog ‘PL Plant hy Hyalomma sp. DH Deer Hide x Inanimate Object ht Hyalomma truncatum
HO Horse
Alabama G 4 ey): a|5 alt
| | Alaska | } | + Ke + 4
Arizgne : y an + a 27
Arkansas 205 | f
California
Colorado
| ifs Connecticut
Delaware
Florida 7} ag 83 i . :
Georgia 8 5 2 i
Hawaii
Idaho
TTT y T
Illinois
= (aglias sal 1s Ca
lowa
Kansas
Kentucky 2 g
4 + T Louisiana | | | | =
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts Pee | Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri 23 8 = 14 1
Montana
Nebraska ie a [aeeol| | [ 1
Nevada
| New Hampshire + Ic 1 |
New Jersey
New Mexico 2 2
New York
North Carolina 7
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
IE Oregon
—| {= | t Pennsylvania | Rhode Island ail: [ South Carolina 11 1 2 8 South Dakota Tennessee 207 84] 1 ; 121 ;
726 5 12] 4 9 | af Texas isa] 111 4] 158 6% 3 | 11 2 165 1x 4 34 Utah |
Vermont a ee oe oe Virginia 4} 2 IE Washington | | West Virginia | le
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Puerto Rico 5660 350 1
cs — Virgin Islands S 11” 21 1 Ne OR Males Key to Species * Nymphal Stage
i Amblyomma inornatum p Dermacentor parumapertus
v Amblyomma variegatum
11
Z86L AOD s60qg WOl-4 SUOI}DE||OD 4IIL ;
Alabama
REPORT OF TICKS COLLECTED
Alaska | Arizona = 1 | | Arkansas 6
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
21
Georgia
Hawaii
Idahee
Illinois
Indiana
lowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Lovisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
lute
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
16 1
+
Tennessee 13 3 2 ; Texas 83 Ls | 4 | Utah if
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands VS FORM T-4 (APR 84)
13
1861 AO
SEIN PUL S8SIOH{ WOA4 SUON}DE}[OD ASI
Alabama
REPORT OF TICKS COLLECTED
USDA-APHIS:
PERIOD
Calendar Year 1987
HOST
Horses and Mules
Alaska [ ile
Arizona L | | | { | y) 1
Arkansas [ : | | fs
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
20
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
x
Indiana
lowa
Kansos
Kentucky
eae Ie Louisiana Saleen ap | t ; area Maine EF = + —- He all f#—__}_ =
|
Maryland Massachusetts 1 4 —
Michigan
+ Minnesota r a —— Mississippi
Montana
Missouri =
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico 4 | New York 4 I: Balt North Carolina | aaa + + North Dakota
Ohio Oklahoma
Oregon | | | (ioe Pennsylvania 1 1 T + Rhode Island [ {—___—_|_ a = +
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
ul
TT
aL
Texas
3
34
L
1*|
He 1
1
5
242
Tal
Utah
+
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
+
ee
West Virginia
|
Wisconsin
+
BEE |
t—
|
—_|—
4 4 Wyoming Puerto Rico 1793 28 1765 vy =] iff Virgin Islands 35 14 3 18
VS FORM T-4 (APR 84)
Key to Species
x Amblyomma variegatum
* Nymphal Stage
15
Alabama ili +
Alaska 1e | [ese asatl S Arizona [ wl i
Arkansas 21 yap +I ae aid
California
Colorado = Ne
Connecticut
Delaware ral |e | L I Florida 2 ep we [
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho ~¥ 1
Illinois
Indiana
lowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Lovisiana 10 10D
Maine
Maryland —EO tt tt tt th
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota |
Mississippi
| Lis
Missouri
Nebraska
i. + Nevada
4 + +— He
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico | |
New York
4p | North Carolina 11 5D BI” |
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma IMK iz Oregon 1RF 1D Pennsylvani i nnsylvania | | | Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee 3 1R 2RC {
TCO TSR | u Texas 28 1D 5D 1D 1D 1D 1D ty ay
lL a =I Utah |
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
t—+- West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands VS FORM T-4 TL (APR 84)
Key to Host Key to Species Larval Stage
BB Black Bear E Elk RC Racoon a Ixodes affinis
BC Bobcat F Fox RF Red Fox b Ixodes brunneus u Ixodes (species undetermined) BI Bird GF Grey Fox SK Skunk id Ixodes dentatus x Ixodes texanus
CG Cougar MK Mink WT Wild Turkey t Amblyomma cuberculatum
cO Coyote OP Opossum
D Deer R Rabbit
USDA-APHIS. PERIOD Calendar Year 1987
Alabama
HOST
Zoo Animals and Miscellaneous Hosts
Alaska
Arizona
1TH
Arkansas “tk
1X 2 1Q
California
Colorado
1yY 1H
6Y
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
1Q
1Y¥
Georgia
Hawaii
1Q
1Q
Idaho ~
Illinois
Indiana
1H
lowa
Kansas
1H
Kentucky
1Y
Louisiana
Maine
=
Maryland
Massachusetts
1pal
Michigan
1H
Minnesota
Mississippi
1Q
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hompshire
|
————t
4
+ a
New York
New Jersey _ 1X New Mexico 3 |_29
=
North Carolina
—|—
+ —|-
North Dakota
Ohio Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina South Dakota
T 3H Ip 26 ennessee : ie 1 peel 2L 1 Texas [et 31 { 1H 3Q 4Q ries 1FW aie 3Y 1sD 1AD 1 ist” Utah Q ST 2sD 3Q
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands VS FORM T-4 (APR 84)
52
15 TO HOSTS Axis Deer FW Anteater G Boa H Cat 1G Chicken LT Fallow Deer MN
Fowl]
Goat
Human
Iguana
Leopard Tortoise Mongoose
Host Not Given Rhinoceros Sheep
Sika Deer
Star Tortoise
- Tick Drag
Trophy Hide
C02 Trap Inanimate Object Swine
zseanwa
Ixodes affinis Amblyomma latum Amblyomma clypeolatum Amblyomma dissimile Rhipicephalus evertsi Amblyomma hebraeum
KEY TO SPECIES (superscripts)
Hyalomma truncatum Amblyomma marmoreum Amblyomma nodosum Amblyomma testudinarium Amblyomma variegatum
19
1022232345
August 1988
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY
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