Abstract
The effectiveness of a single treatment with either ivermectin or moxidectin was determined by administering a single subcutaneous injection of each endectocide at 200 μg per kg body weight to cattle infested with all parasitic developmental stages (adults, nymphs, and larvae) of Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). The percentage reduction in the number of females that reached repletion following treatment (outright kill) was 94.8 and 91.1% for ivermectin and moxidectin, respectively. In addition, the reproductive capacity of the females that did survive to repletion was reduced by >99%, regardless of the endectocide. Based on these two factors, the therapeutic level of control obtained against ticks on the cattle at the time of treatment was 99.0 and 99.1% for ivermectin and moxidectin, respectively. Engorged females recovered from either group of treated cattle weighed ≈3-times less than untreated females, and the egg masses produced by treated females weighed ≈5–8-times less than egg masses produced by untreated females. Partitioning of data into three separate 7-d post-treatment intervals allowed for an estimation of the efficacy of each endectocide against each individual parasitic development stage (adult, nymph, and larva). Results indicated that both endectocides were ≥99.7% effective against ticks that were in either the adult or nymphal stage at the time of treatment. However, the level of control against ticks in the larval stage of development at treatment was significantly lower at 97.9 and 98.4% for ivermectin and moxidectin, respectively. Analysis of the persistent (residual) activity of the two endectocides indicated that neither material provided total protection against larval re-infestation for even 1-wk following treatment. Against larvae infested 1–4 wk following treatment, the level of control with moxidectin ranged from 92.4% (1 wk) to 19.5% (4 wk). These control levels were higher at each weekly interval than for ivermectin, which ranged from 82.4% (1 wk) to 0.0% (4 wk). The potential for the use of these injectable endectocide formulations in the US Boophilus Eradication Program is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
W.S. Abbott (1925) ArticleTitleA method for computing effectiveness of an insecticide J. Econ. Entomol. 18 265–267 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaB2MXhvFGlsQ%3D%3D
G. Aguilar-Tipacamu R.I. Rodriguez-Vivas (2003) ArticleTitleEffect of moxidectin against natural infestation of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Acarina: Ixodidae) in the Mexican tropics Vet. Parasitol. 111 211–216 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-4017(02)00355-2 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXivVSrtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12531295
L. Caproni SuffixJr. O. Umehara E. Moro L.C.B. Goncalves (1998) ArticleTitleField efficacy of doramectin and ivermectin against natural infestations of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus Brazil. J. Vet. Parasitol. 7 151–155
L.G. Cramer L.A.F. Carvalho A.A. Bridi N.K. Amaral R.A. Barrick (1988a) ArticleTitleEfficacy of topically applied ivermectin against Boophilus microplus (Canestrini1887) in cattle Vet. Parasitol. 29 341–349 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0304-4017(88)90151-3 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL1M%2FntlKktQ%3D%3D
L.G. Cramer A.A. Bridi N.K. Amaral S.J. Gross (1988b) ArticleTitlePersistent activity of injectable ivermectin in the control of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus Vet. Rec. 122 611–612 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL1czgs1Wrsg%3D%3D
R.B. Davey E.H. Ahrens (1982) ArticleTitleControl of Boophilus ticks on cattle with a flowable formulation of coumaphos J. Econ. Entomol. 75 228–231 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL3s%2FgvVSjtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle7119263
R.B. Davey E.H. Ahrens J.E. George (1997) ArticleTitleComparative effectiveness of coumaphos treatments applied by different methods for the control of Boophilus mi croplus (Acari: Ixodidae) J. Agric. Entomol. 14 45–54 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXht1alurk%3D
R.B. Davey J.E. George D.E. Snyder (2001) ArticleTitleEfficacy of a single whole-body spray treatment of spinosadagainst Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle Vet. Parasitol. 99 41–52 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-4017(01)00456-3 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXkvVent7c%3D Occurrence Handle11445154
R.B. Davey J.E. George (2002) ArticleTitleEfficacy of macrocyclic lactone endectocides against Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) infested cattle using different pour-on application treatment regimes J. Med. Entomol. 39 763–769 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XnvVSkurs%3D Occurrence Handle12349860
S.H. Fragoso N. Soberanes M. Ortiz M. Santamaria A. Ortiz (1995) Epidemiologia de la resistencia a ixodicidas piretroides en garrapatas Boophilus microplus en la Republica Mexicana S. Rodriguez H. Fragoso (Eds) Proceeding of the 3rd Seminario International de Parasitologia Animal: Resistencia y control en garrapatas y moscas de importancia veterinaria De Iconica Impresores, Jintepec, Mor Mexico 45–56
George J.E. and Davey R.B. 2004. The therapeutic and persistent efficacy of a single application of doramectin applied either as a pour-on or injection to cattle infested with Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Med. Entomol. 41: 402–407.
Gonzales J.C., Muniz R.A., Farias A., Goncalves L.C.B. and Rew R.S. 1993. Therapeutic and persistent efficacy of doramectin against Boophilus microplus in cattle. Vet. Parasitol. 49: 107–119.
O.H. Graham J.L. Hourrigan (1977) ArticleTitleEradication programs for the arthropod parasites of livestock J. Med. Entomol. 13 629–658 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE2s3jtVaqug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle328882
A.A. Guglielmone A.J. Mangold M.E. Munoz-Cobenas N. Scherling F. Garcia-Posse O.S. Anziani M. Ioppolo (2000) ArticleTitleMoxidectin pour-on for control of natural populations of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Acarina: Ixodidae) Vet. Parasitol. 87 237–241 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-4017(99)00173-9 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXntlegu7k%3D Occurrence Handle10622616
L.F. Hitchcock (1955) ArticleTitleStudies on the parasitic stages of the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) (Acarina: Ixodidae) Aust. J. Zool. 3 145–155
A.Y. Li R.B. Davey R.J. Miller J.E. George (2004) ArticleTitleDetection and characterization of amitraz resistance in the southern cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) J. Med. Entomol. 41 193–200 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXltFKgtb0%3D Occurrence Handle15061278 Occurrence Handle10.1603/0022-2585-41.2.193
D.K. Maske M.R. Sardey N.G. Bhilegaonkar (1992) ArticleTitleTreatment of tick infestations in cattle with ivermectin Indian Vet. J. 69 8–9
R.J. Miller R.B. Davey George (1999) ArticleTitleCharacterization of pyrethroid resistance and susceptibility to coumaphos in Mexican Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) J. Med. Entomol. 36 533–538 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c%2FgsVyntw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10534945
B. Remington P. Kieran R. Cobb D. Bodero (1997) ArticleTitleThe application of moxidectin formulations for control of the cattle tick (Boophilus microplus) under Queensland field conditions Aust. Vet. J. 75 588–591 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXnsVyrsrg%3D Occurrence Handle9293342
SAS Institute. 1999. SAS user’s manual, version 8.2 for Windows. SAS InstituteCary, N.C.
G.J. Sibson (1994) ArticleTitleThe effects of moxidectin against natural infestations of the cattle tick (Boophilus microplus) Aust. Vet. J. 71 381–382 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXlt1ehu7k%3D Occurrence Handle7726764
N.C. Soberanes M.V. Santamaria H.S. Fragoso Z.V. Garcia (2002) ArticleTitleFirst case reported of amitraz resistance in the cattle tick Boophilus microplus in Mexico Tec. Pecu. Mex. 40 81–92
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This paper reports the results of research only. Mention of a commercial or proprietary product in this paper does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In conducting the research described in this report, the investigators adhered to protocol approved by the USDA-ARS Animal Welfare Committee. The protocol is on file at the USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Laboratory, Tick Research Unit, Kerrville, TX. The U.S. Government’s right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright is acknowledged.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Davey, R.B., Miller, J.A., George, J.E. et al. Therapeutic and persistent efficacy of a single injection treatment of ivermectin and moxidectin against Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) on infested cattle. Exp Appl Acarol 35, 117–129 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-004-2046-9
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-004-2046-9