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Nicaretta JE, Dos Santos JB, Couto LFM, Heller LM, Cruvinel LB, de Melo Júnior RD, de Assis Cavalcante AS, Zapa DMB, Ferreira LL, de Oliveira Monteiro CM, Soares VE, Lopes WDZ. Evaluation of rotational grazing as a control strategy for Rhipicephalus microplus in a tropical region. Res Vet Sci 2020; 131:92-97. [PMID: 32325299 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus microplus is the most significant tick of livestock and its control is particularly challenging due to its resistance to commercial acaricides. Pasture rotation is considered a management strategy that could help control R. microplus, however, the literature only contemplates mathematical models and little is known about the effects of this practice in the field. The objective of this work was to determine whether pasture rotation is an efficient method for controlling R. microplus. Two different experiments were performed that involved groups of continuous and rotational grazing bovines. Female ticks measuring 4.5-8.0 mm were counted on animals while larvae in pasture were counted using the flannel drag technique. Treatment for infested bovines was applied when the average group tick count was ≥30 females. The results showed that rotational grazing (with 20-day periods of rest) had a higher tick count on-host than continuous grazing (P < 0.05) and additional bovine treatment was needed. Sixty and 105 days were needed to re-infest and disinfest pasture of R. microplus larvae, respectively. The first treatment of bovines occurred 91 days after the animals were placed in a closed area. The results indicate that rotational grazing is not an efficient way to control R. microplus.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Eduardo Nicaretta
- Centro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Jordana Belos Dos Santos
- Centro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fellipe Monteiro Couto
- Centro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Luciana Maffini Heller
- Centro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Bueno Cruvinel
- Centro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Rubens Dias de Melo Júnior
- Centro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | | | - Dina María Beltrán Zapa
- Centro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Lorena Lopes Ferreira
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Caio Márcio de Oliveira Monteiro
- Centro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil; Departamento de Biociências e Tecnologia, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | | | - Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes
- Centro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil; Departamento de Biociências e Tecnologia, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
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Veríssimo CJ, Giglioti R, D'Agostino SM, de Toledo LM, Katiki LM, Duarte KMR, de Miranda Santos IKF. Cattle herd shearing can help to control Rhipicephalus microplus ticks. Exp Appl Acarol 2019; 79:99-106. [PMID: 31489557 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-019-00413-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Given the difficulties of controlling the tick Rhipicephalus microplus due to acaricide resistance, this study aimed to ascertain whether shearing could reduce infestation in cattle. 17 taurine cattle were sheared on the anterior third of one randomly selected side. Shearing was undertaken using a machine with a blade, leaving coats with a thickness of 1 mm. Subsequently, eight evaluations were performed once a week, counting adult females of R. microplus with a diameter > 4.5 mm on the anterior third of both sides (shorn and unshorn). The coat length was also monitored by taking five hair samples from each animal fortnightly (1, 15, 29, 43 and 57 days post shorn) from a central area of both shoulders (shorn and unshorn). The tick counts and hair length data were transformed for normalisation and were analysed using mixed models. The tick and hair length means were significantly higher for the unshorn side. Tick counts were significantly lower on the sheared side until the fifth evaluation, with the final three presenting no differences between the sides. The hair length was significantly lower for the sheared side during the five evaluations. We conclude that as the hair length increased, there was also an increase in the number of ticks on the sheared side. Although this method is not practical for large herds, it can be deemed an option in extreme conditions of tick infestation. In addition, the study reinforces the suggestion that the selection and/or use of cattle with shorter hairs may contribute to reduced tick infestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecília José Veríssimo
- Institute of Animal Science (APTA-SAA), Rua Heitor Penteado, 56, Nova Odessa, São Paulo, 13380-011, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo Giglioti
- Institute of Animal Science (APTA-SAA), Rua Heitor Penteado, 56, Nova Odessa, São Paulo, 13380-011, Brazil
| | - Selma Marques D'Agostino
- Institute of Animal Science (APTA-SAA), Rua Heitor Penteado, 56, Nova Odessa, São Paulo, 13380-011, Brazil
| | - Luciandra Macedo de Toledo
- Institute of Animal Science (APTA-SAA), Rua Heitor Penteado, 56, Nova Odessa, São Paulo, 13380-011, Brazil
| | - Luciana Morita Katiki
- Institute of Animal Science (APTA-SAA), Rua Heitor Penteado, 56, Nova Odessa, São Paulo, 13380-011, Brazil
| | - Keila Maria Roncato Duarte
- Institute of Animal Science (APTA-SAA), Rua Heitor Penteado, 56, Nova Odessa, São Paulo, 13380-011, Brazil
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