Implication of nilgai antelope (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in reinfestations of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) in South Texas: A review and update

Authors: Lohmeyer, Kimberly - Kim; May, Melinda; Thomas, Donald; Perez De Leon, Adalberto - Beto

Submitted to: Journal of Medical Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2017
Publication Date: 2/9/2018
Citation: Lohmeyer, K.H., May, M.A., Thomas, D.B., Perez De Leon, A.A. 2018. Implication of nilgai antelope (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in reinfestations of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) in South Texas: A review and update. Journal of Medical Entomology. 55(3):515-522. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjy004.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjy004

Interpretive Summary: The Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program was the first parasite eradication program of veterinary importance in the United States and is considered to be one of the greatest disease eradication programs of all time. The program’s utilization of pasture vacation of cattle and dipping of cattle in acaricide has been extremely successful for controlling cattle fever ticks on cattle along the Texas border with Mexico for decades, but the increase of white-tailed deer, populations in South Texas over the last fifty years has compromised the success of the program. Tick infestation data has confirmed that white-tailed deer can support the maintenance and movement of both species of cattle fever tick in South Texas along the Rio Grande River, even in the absence of cattle. Over the two decades, increasing populations of exotic nilgai antelope in South Texas have further complicated cattle fever tick eradication efforts. Historical tick infestation data, host source data, and geographical data support the continued role of white-tailed deer in maintaining re-infestations of cattle fever ticks in South Texas, as well as the increasing role of nilgai antelope in cattle fever tick maintenance and dispersal.

Technical Abstract: The Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program was the first parasite eradication program of veterinary importance in the United States and is considered to be one of the greatest disease eradication programs of all time. The program’s utilization of pasture vacation of cattle and dipping of cattle in acaricide has been extremely successful for controlling Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) and R. (B.) annulatus (Say), collectively known as cattle fever ticks, on cattle along the Texas border with Mexico for decades, but the increase of white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann), populations in South Texas over the last fifty years has compromised the success of the program. Tick infestation data has confirmed that white-tailed deer can support the maintenance and movement of both species of cattle fever tick within the permanent quarantine or buffer zone in South Texas along the Rio Grande River, and also in the cattle fever tick-free area north and east of the buffer zone. Over the two decades, increasing populations of exotic nilgai antelope, Boselaphus tragocamelus (Pallas), in South Texas have further complicated cattle fever tick eradication efforts. Historical tick infestation data, host source data, and geographical data support the continued role of white-tailed deer in maintaining reinfestations of cattle fever ticks in South Texas, as well as the increasing role of nilgai antelope in cattle fever tick maintenance and dispersal.