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Submitted to: Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 9/21/2012 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Bovine babesiosis, also known as cattle tick fever, is a disease caused by single-celled organisms whose cells have nuclei that are transmitted by cattle fever ticks. The eradication of bovine babesiosis from the United States (U.S.) by the elimination of cattle fever ticks (CFT) in 1943 through efforts of the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program (CFTEP) represents a very successful campaign in the history of disease eradication efforts. Keeping the U.S. bovine herd free of cattle tick fever and CFT is a critical animal health issue affecting the economic stability of livestock and wildlife enterprises. Disruptive processes form part of global change and they add uncertainty to future outcomes of current policies to manage ticks and tick-borne diseases like those of the CFTEP. An apparent surge in CFT outbreaks beyond the permanent quarantine zone recorded in 2008 and 2009 illustrates the risk for outbreaks of cattle tick fever in the U.S. An update on activities addressing some of the research needs identified during a public workshop held in 2009 is presented here. The potential of these research activities to mitigate the impact of global change on the way the CFTEP operates is discussed. Technical Abstract: Bovine babesiosis, also known as cattle tick fever, is a disease caused by the apicomplexan protozoa Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, which are transmitted by the cattle fever tick species (CFT) Rhipicephalus microplus and R. annulatus. The eradication of bovine babesiosis from the United States (U.S.) by the elimination of CFT through efforts of the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program (CFTEP) represents a very successful campaign in the history of disease eradication efforts. Keeping the U.S. bovine herd free of cattle tick fever and CFT is a critical animal health issue affecting the economic stability of livestock and wildlife enterprises. Disruptive processes form part of global change and they add uncertainty to future outcomes of current policies to manage ticks and tick-borne diseases like those of the CFTEP. An apparent surge in CFT outbreaks beyond the permanent quarantine zone recorded in 2008 and 2009 illustrates the risk for outbreaks of bovine babesiosis in the U.S. This situation was addressed by holding a public workshop in 2009 where gaps in knowledge and technology were identified. An update on research efforts to fulfill some of the knowledge and technology needs is presented here. The potential of these research activities to mitigate the impact of global change on the way the CFTEP operates is discussed. |
