Effects of silica based CimeXa and Drione dusts against lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.)(Ixodida: Ixodidae), on cattle

Authors: Showler, Allan; Harlien, Jessica

Submitted to: Journal of Medical Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2019
Publication Date: 10/17/2019
Citation: 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.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjz180

Interpretive Summary: Hard (ixodid) ticks vector disease-producing pathogens and they are found throughout tropical and temperate regions worldwide. We used the lone star tick as a model for larvae and nymphs of other ixodid species, including the southern cattle fever tick. We assessed the lethality of CimeXa, a silica-based desiccant dust, and Drione, a silica-based desiccant dust with pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide, against lone star tick larvae and nymphs on calves. CimeXa was strongly lethal to larvae that were released onto shaved calf skin between 72 h and 96 h previously, and it was moderately toxic to nymphs. The product did not affect larvae and nymphs that were treated after they had begun feeding on the calf. Drione killed larvae and nymphs within 24 h when ticks were released onto treated calf skin and when the application was on feeding ticks. When CimeXa was applied to calves with the hair intact, '90% and '70% of the tick larvae and nymphs were killed, respectively, within 24 h and Drione killed 100% of each life stage. Drione also prevented and drastically reduced egg production and hatching.

Technical Abstract: Ixodid ticks vector disease-producing pathogens and they are distributed throughout tropical and temperate regions worldwide. The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Ixodida: Ixodidae), is a three-host species common to the southern United States that parasitizes humans, livestock, and a variety of wild animals. We used it as a model for larvae and nymphs of other species of ixodid ticks, including the southern cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini). We assessed the lethality of CimeXa, a silica-based desiccant dust, and Drione, a silica-based desiccant dust with pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide (PBO), against A. americanum larvae and nymphs on calves. CimeXa was highly lethal to larvae that were released onto shaved calf skin between 72 h and 96 h previously, but it was only moderately toxic to nymphs. The product did not affect larvae and nymphs that were treated after they had begun feeding on the calf. Drione killed larvae and nymphs within 24 h when ticks were released onto treated calf skin and when the application was made to feeding ticks. When CimeXa was applied to calves with the hair intact, '90% and '70% of A. americanum larvae and nymphs were killed, respectively, within 24 h and Drione killed 100% of each life stage. Drione prevented and drastically reduced egg production and hatching.