Experiences in Tick Control by Acaricide in the Traditional Cattle Sector in Zambia and Burkina Faso: Possible Environmental and Public Health Implications

Abstract

Livestock, especially cattle, play a paramount role in agriculture production systems, particularly in poor countries throughout the world. Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have an important impact on livestock and agriculture production in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors review the most common methods used for the control of ticks and TBDs. Special emphasis is given to the direct application of acaricides to the host animals. The possible environmental and public health adverse effects (i.e., risks for the workers, residues in the environment and in food products of animal origin) are mentioned. The authors present two case studies, describing different field experiences in controlling ticks in two African countries. In Zambia (Southern Africa), a strategic dipping regime was used to control Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks, vectors of theileriosis, a deadly disease affecting cattle in the traditional livestock sector in Southern Province. The dipping regime adopted allowed to reduce the tick challenge and cattle mortally rate and, at the same time, to employ less acaricide as compared to the intensive dipping used so far, without disrupting the building-up of enzootic stability. In Burkina Faso (West Africa), where dipping was never used for tick control, an acaricide footbath was employed as an alternative method to the traditional technique used locally (portable manual sprayers). This was developed from field observations on the invasion/attachment process of the Amblyomma variegatum ticks – vector of cowdriosis – on the animal hosts, leading to a control method aimed to kill ticks temporarily attached to the interdigital areas before their permanent attachment to the predilection sites. This innovative method has been overall accepted by the local farmers. It has the advantage of greatly reducing costs of treatments and has a minimal environmental impact, making footbath a sustainable and replicable method, adoptable also in other West African countries. Although the two methods described, developed in very different contexts, are not comparable – if public health and environmental implications are taken into account, if a balance among efficacy of the control method(s), cost-effectiveness and sustainability is reached – a way forward for the implementation of a One Health strategy can be set.

Efficacy profile of Cypermethrin and Chlorpyrifos based acaricides on Rhipicephalus microplus control on cattle in the rearing phase, naturally infested and exposed to tick fever agents in central Brazil

“…How the applicator handles the product to treat the animal can also influence product performance. However, performance variability and other factors can influence the acaricidal formulation and treatment method of choice for cattle (De Meneghi et al, 2016).…”

“…In this context, the Brangus cross showed superiority with respect to Nellore and other crosses in this region (Battistelli et al, 2013); however, cross-bred animals are generally more susceptible to ticks, and the control of these ectoparasites is achieved through the use of acaricides. This increase in infection pressure places these populations of ticks at a higher risk of developing resistance, including multi-chemical resistance to the different chemical bases used (Higa et al, 2015) in different regions (Andreotti et al, 2011, Higa et al, 2016, Klafke et al, 2017 of Brazil. Another aggravating factor in the use of acaricides is the risk of environmental contamination and residues in meat, milk and its derivatives (De Meneghi et al, 2016, Gaus and Furlong, 2002, Kunz and Kemp, 1994.…”

Effect of the Essential Oil of Clausena anisata (Rutaceae) and Palm Kernel Vegetable Oil on Engorged Females of Three Species of Ixodidae Cattle Ticks

“…In addition, despite the multiple means of struggle against the ticks, we observe the development of resistance phenomena against chemical acaricides (Abbas, Zaman, Colwell, Gilleard, & Iqbal, 2014; Lovis et al, 2012). We also note the problems of bioaccumulation of residues of these chemical acaricides in animal tissues and milk and their transfer across food chains, as well as ecological, environmental, and public health issues (De Meneghi, Stachurski, & Adakal, 2016). Chemical laboratories struggle to find new molecules for the rational control of these parasites, especially for Rh.…”

Potential Applications of Guayulins to Improve Feasibility of Guayule Cultivation

“…Novel antimicrobial plant-derived compounds in new chemical classes will lack cross-resistance to chemicals currently used. Guayulin-based miticides could be useful against ticks and tick-borne diseases, which affect 80% of the world's cattle population and are widely distributed throughout the continents, particularly in the tropics and subtropics, costing between US$ 13.9 billion and US$ 18.7 billion every year [62].…”