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ARS Home » Plains Area » Kerrville, Texas » Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory » Cattle Fever Tick Research Unit » Research » Research Project #436694
Research Project: Integrated Pest Management of Cattle Fever Ticks

Location: Cattle Fever Tick Research Unit

2020 Annual Report


Accomplishments
1. Innovative technology for integrated fever tick management. Cattle fever ticks (CFT) are foreign high-consequence pests that threaten U.S. animal agriculture because they feed on the blood of livestock they infest and transmit the microbes that cause bovine babesiosis, a disease that causes rapid death in cattle. Of the two CFT species that remain established in Mexico, the southern CFT, Rhipicephalus microplus, is more invasive than the CFT, R. annulatus. Novel approaches to manage CFT are desperately needed because they are now resistant to almost all the classes of chemicals, or acaricides, commercialized to treat infested cattle. Collaboration between ARS scientists in Kerrville, Texas, and Ft. Pierce, Florida, resulted in the creation of new technology to manage CFT. This innovative approach uses constructs for RNA interference of crucial biological processes for tick survival. 104 1 A 2019

2. Man-made barriers for integrated cattle fever tick eradication. The increased number of fever tick outbreaks in the South Texas coastal plain wildlife corridor is alarming. This problem is compounded by a knowledge gap on the ecology of the southern cattle fever tick, R. microplus, causing these outbreaks. Data analyzed by ARS scientists in Kerrville, Texas, showed that the natural landscape and other features resulting from human activity influence fever tick infestation levels in nilgai. This hoofed animal related to cattle was introduced to this ecosystem almost a century ago and is known to disperse fever ticks across the environment. Man-made barriers could be used as part of integrated fever eradication efforts in the lower part of the South Texas coastal plain wildlife corridor.

3. New and quick method to spot fever ticks resistant to pyrethroids. Pyrethroids are a class of pesticides also used to control tick infestations in livestock. However, cattle fever ticks have become resistant to the effects of pyrethroids. Quick and accurate diagnosis of pyrethroid resistance in fever tick populations infesting cattle and horses is crucial for efficient operations of the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program. ARS scientists in Kerrville and Edinburg, Texas, and Pullman, Washington, worked with collaborators at Northern Arizona University, and the University of Queretaro in Mexico to develop a new and quick method to spot fever ticks resistant to pyrethroids. This DNA-based assay can detect multiple changes in the gene coding for the product targeted by the action of pyrethroids. These changes, or mutations, are known to confer some level of resistance, this particular case to the pyrethroid known as permethrin. This research documented that fever ticks with any two of the three mutations showed high levels of resistance to permethrin. This molecular assay can be completed overnight.


Review Publications
Showler, A., Bailee, D.N., Caesar, R.M. 2020. Effects of formic acid on Amblyomma americanum (Ixodida: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaa037.
 Showler, A., Dorsey, B.N., Caesar, R.M. 2020. Lethal effects of a silica gel + thyme oil (EcoVia) dusts and aqueous suspensions on Amblyomma americanum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) larvae and nymphs. Journal of Medical Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaa054.
 Rodriguez-Vivas, R.I., Perez De Leon, A.A., Ojeda-Chi, M.M. 2020. The longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis): invasive exotic species that threatens animal and public health in Mexico. Bioagrociencias. 12:9-18.
 Perez De Leon, A.A., Mitchell III, R.D., Watson, D.W. 2020. Ectoparasites of cattle. Veterinary Clinics of North America. 36(1):173-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2019.12.004.
 Showler, A., Flores, N., Caesar, R.M., Mitchell, R.D., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2020. Lethal effects of a commercial diatomaceous earth dust product on Amblyomma americanum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) larvae and nymphs. Journal of Medical Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaa082.
 Armstrong, B.A., Kneubehl, A.R., Mitchell III, R.D., Krishnavajhala, A., Teel, P.D., Perez De Leon, A.A., Lopez, J.E. 2020. Differential expression of putative Ornithodoros turicata defensins mediated by tick feeding. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2020.00152.
 Souza Higa, L., Barradas Pina, F., Rodrigues, V., Valerio Garcia, M., Romero Salas, D., Miller, R., Perez De Leon, A.A., Cavalcante Barros, J., Andreotti, R. 2020. Evidence of acaricide resistance in different life stages of Amblyomma mixtum and Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from the same farm in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104837.
 Merino, J., De La Cruz, N., Galvan, G., Perez De Leon, A.A., Burnes, J. 2020. First molecular and serological detection of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease virus in white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brazalian Archive of Medicine Veterinaria and Zootecnia. 71(1):77-85. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-9987.
 Showler, A., Osbrink, W.L., Dorsey, B.N., Caesar, R.M. 2019. Metastriate ixodid life stages protected from predatory ants in Texas. Environmental Entomology. 48(5):1063-1070. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvz097.
 Ojeda-Chi, M., Rodriguez-Vivas, R., Esteve-Gassent, M., Perez De Leon, A.A., Modarelli, J., Villegas-Perez, S. 2019. Ehrlichia canis in dogs of Mexico: Prevalence, incidence, co-infection and factors associated. Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 67:101351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2019.101351.
 Merino, J.O., De La Cruz, N.I., Martinez, J., Perez De Leon, A.A., Romero-Salas, D., Esteve-Gassent, M., Lagunes-Quintanilla, R. 2020. Molecular detection of Rickettsia species in ticks collected in the Mexico-USA transboundary region. Experimental and Applied Acarology. 80:559-567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-020-00483-5.
 Vasquez, A., Goolsby, J., Vacek, A.T., Racelis, A.E., Kariyat, R.R. 2019. Incidence of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and its parasitoid, Ixodiphagus hookeri on dogs in South Texas. Subtropical Agriculture and Environments. 70:6-10.
 Bendele, K.G., Guerrero, F., Cameron, C., Bodine, D.L., Miller, R. 2019. Gene expression during the early stages of host perception and attachment in adult female Rhipicephalus microplus ticks. Experimental and Applied Acarology. 79(1):107-124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-019-00420-1.
 Showler, A., Harlien, J.L. 2019. Effects of silica based CimeXa and Drione dusts against lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.)(Ixodida: Ixodidae), on cattle. Journal of Medical Entomology. 57(2):485-492. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjz180.
 Hernández-Velasco, A., Sánchez-Montes, S., Romero-Salas, D., Cruz-Romero, A., Jiménez-Hernández, J., Becker, I., Aguilar-Domínguez, M., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2020. First record of natural infection with Anaplasma marginale in sucking lice infesting the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Mexico. Parasitology Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06772-7.
 Khan, A., Mitchell, R.D., Ali Shah, S., Nasreen, N., Niaz, S., Ayaz, S., Naeem, H., Khan, L., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2019. Tick burden and tick species prevalence in small ruminants of different agencies of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Pakistan. International Journal of Acarology. 45(6-7):374-380. https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2019.1663930.
 Khan, A., Nasreen, N.A., Niaz, S., Ayaz, S., Naeem, H., Muhammad, I., Said, F., Mitchell, R.D., Perez De Leon, A.A., Snehil, G., Kumar, S. 2019. Acaricidal efficacy of Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae) and Taraxacum officinale (Asteraceae) against Rhipicephalus microplus from Mardan, Pakistan. Experimental and Applied Acarology. 78(4):595-608. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-019-00406-z.
 Goolsby, J., McKinney, B., Larson, D., Bennett, J. 2019. Establishment of Arundo wasp, Tetramesa romana, at Big Bend National Park. Southwestern Entomologist. 44(1):321-322. https://doi.org/10.3958/059.044.0134.
 Guerrero, F., Bendele, K.G., Ghaffari, N., Guhlin, J., Gedye, K.R., Lawrence, K.E., Dearden, P.K., Harrop, T.W., Heath, A.C., Lun, Y., Metz, R.P., Teel, P., Perez De Leon, A.A., Biggs, P.J., Pomroy, W.E., Johnson, C.P., Blood, P.D., Bellgard, S.E., Tompkins, D.M. 2019. The Pacific Biosciences de novo assembled genome from a parthenogenetic New Zealand wild population of the longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, 1901. Data in Brief. 27:104602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2019.104602.
 Campos, K.L., Alves De Araujo, T., Showler, A., Luz, C.E., Da Silva, W.B., De Figueiredo, C., Torres, J.B., Bastos, C.S. 2019. Integration of cotton plant resistance with selected organic boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) control tactics. Journal of Agricultural Science. 11(5). https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n5p1.
 Ojeda-Chi, M., Perez De Leon, A.A., Esteve-Gassent, M., Modarelli, J., Villegas-Perez, S. 2019. Ehrlichia canis in dogs of Mexico: Prevalence, incidence, co-infection and factors associated. Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 67:101351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2019.101351.
 Goolsby, J., Moran, P.J. 2019. Field impacts of the arundo scale, Rhizaspidiotus donacis (Homoptera: Diaspididae) on Arundo donax on the Rio Grande. Subtropical Agriculture and Environments. 70:11-16.
 Showler, A., Osbrink, W.L. 2018. The arundo wasp, Tetramesa romana, does not control giant river reed, Arundo donax, in Texas, USA. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 166(11-12):883-893. https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.12732.
 Pereiria De Oliveira, R., Hutet, E., Paboeuf, F., Duhayon, M., Boinas, F., Perez De Leon, A.A., Filatov, S., Vial, L., Le Potier, M. 2019. Comparative vector competence of the Afrotropical soft tick Ornithodoros moubata and Palearctic species, O. erraticus and O. verrucosus, for African Swine Fever virus strains circulating in Eurasia. PLoS One. 14(11):e0225657. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225657.
 Showler, A., Harlien, J.L., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2019. Effects of laboratory grade limonene and a commercial limonene-based insecticide on Haematobia irritans irritans (L.) (Muscidae: Diptera): deterrence, mortality, and reproduction. Journal of Medical Entomology. 56(4):1064-1070. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjz020.
 Benavidez, K.M., Guerra, T., Torres, M., Rodriguez, D., Veech, J., Hahn, D., Miller, R., Soltero, F., Perez Ramirez, A., Perez De Leon, A.A., Castro-Arellano, I. 2019. The prevalence of Leptospira among invasive small mammals on Puerto Rican cattle farms. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 13(5):e0007236. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007236.
 Beard, B.C., Occi, J., Bonilla, D.L., Egizi, A.M., Perez De Leon, A.A., Fonseca, D.M., Mertins, J.W., Backenson, B., Bajwa, W., Barbarin, A.M., Bertone, M., Brown, J., Connally, N.P., Connell, N., Falco, R., Foust, E., James, A.M., Krell, R., Lahmers, K., Lewis, N., Little, S.E., Maillard, J., Moore, Z., Neault, M., Randall, A.R., Ruder, M.G., Saleh, M.N., Schappach, B., Schreoder, B.A., Seraphin, L., Wehtje, M., Williams, C., Wormser, G.P., Yabsley, M.J., Halperin, W. 2018. Multistate infestation of an exotic disease vector tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. 67:1310-1313. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6747a3.
 Davis, H.N., Goolsby, J., Thomas, D.B., Badillo, I., Kariyat, R., Vitek, C., Sekula, D. 2020. Review of major crop and animal arthropod pests of South Texas. Subtropical Agriculture and Environments. 71:36-48.
 Showler, A. 2019. Desert locust control: The effectiveness of proactive interventions and the goal of outbreak prevention. American Entomologist. 65(3):180-191. https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmz020.
 Showler, A., Donahue, W.A., Harlien, J.L., Donahue, M., Vinson, B. 2019. Efficacy of novaluron + pyriproxyfen (Tekko Pro) insect growth regulators against Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Journal of Medical Entomology. 56(5):1338-1345. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjz075.
 Soti, P., Goolsby, J., Racelis, A. 2020. Agricultural and environmental weeds of south Texas and their management. Subtropical Agriculture and Environments. 71:1-11.
 Sutton, G., Canavan, K., Day, M., Den, B., Goolsby, J., Cristofaro, M., McConnachie, A., Patterson, I. 2019. Grasses as suitable targets for classical weed biological control. Biocontrol. 64:605-622. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-019-09968-8.
 Kim, H.J., Krishnavajhala, A., Armstrong, B.A., Perez De Leon, A.A., Filatov, S., Teele, P.D., Lopez, J.E. 2019. Humoral immune response of pigs, Sus scrofa domesticus upon repeated exposure to blood-feeding by Ornithodoros turicata Duges (Ixodida: Argasidae). Parasites & Vectors. 13:66. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-3931-8.
 Temeyer, K.B., Schlechte, K.G., McDonough, W.P. 2019. Baculoviral expression of presumptive OP-resistance mutations in BmAChE1 of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Ixodida:Ixodidae) and biochemical resistance to OP inhibition. Journal of Medical Entomology. 56(5):1318-1323. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjz062.
 Goolsby, J., Hathcock, C., Vacek, A., Kariyat, R., Moran, P.J., Martinez-Jiminez, M. 2020. No evidence of non-target use of native or economic grasses and broadleaf plants by Arundo donax biological control agents. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 30(8):795-805. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2020.1767038.
 Domingues, L.N., Guerrero, F., Foil, L.D. 2019. Impacts of long-term insecticide treatment regimes on skdr and kdr pyrethroid resistance alleles in horn fly field populations. Parasitology Research. 118:2485–2497. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-019-06386-8.
 Currie, C., Hewitt, D., Ortega-S, A., Schuster, G., Campbell, T., Lohmeyer, K.H., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2020. Efficacy of white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) treatment for cattle fever ticks in southern Texas, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 56(3):588-596. https://doi.org/10.7589/2015-11-304.
 Thomas, D.B., Klafke, G., Busch, J.D., Olafson, P.U., Miller, R., Mosqueda, J., Stone, N., Scoles, G.A., Wagner, D., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2020. Tracking the increase of acaricide resistance in an invasive population of cattle fever ticks, Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae), and implementation of real-time PCR assays to rapidly genotype resistance mutations. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 113(4):298-309. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saz053.
 Showler, A., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2020. Landscape ecology of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) outbreaks in the South Texas Coastal Plain wildlife corridor including man-made barriers. Environmental Entomology. 49(3):546-552. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvaa038.
 Ojeda, M., Rodriguez-Vivas, R., Esteve-Gassent, M., Perez De Leon, A.A., Modarelli, J., Sandra, V. 2019. Molecular detection of rickettsial tick-borne agents in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus yucatanensis), mazama deer (Mazama temama), and the ticks they host in Yucatan, Mexico. Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases. 10(2):365-370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.11.018.
 Cardoso, A., Guimaraes Dos Santos, E.G., Da Silva Lima, A., Temeyer, K.B., Perez De Leon, A.A., Costa-Junior, L.M., Dos Santos Soares, A.M. 2020. Terpenes on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus: Acaricidal activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. Veterinary Parasitology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109090.
 Aguilar-Dominguez, M., Romero-Salas, D., Sanchez-Montes, S., Barradas-Pina, F.T., Rosas-Saito, G., Cruz-Romero, A., Ibarra-Priego, N., Becker, I., Lohmeyer, K.H., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2018. Occurrence of Amblyomma mixtum on the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Mexico. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. 7(3):405-408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.10.005.
 Klafke, G.M., Moreno, H.C., Tidwell, J.P., Miller, R., Thomas, D.B., Feria-Arroyo, T.P., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2020. Partial characterization of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene and molecular detection of permethrin resistance in Rhipicephalus annulatus (Say, 1821). Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101368.