Abstract
Analysis of doramectin concentration in blood serum of pastured cattle injected repeatedly (12 treatments) at two different dosage rates and 28-day intervals throughout the year was used to predict the probability that cattle fever ticks could successfully feed to repletion during the interval between any two consecutive treatments. Treatment at ~270 μg/kg indicated that serum doramectin concentration dropped below the baseline concentration estimated for tick survival (8 ppb) in 7 of the 12 treatments. However, the longest period between any two treatments during which the doramectin concentration remained below the 8 ppb baseline level for successful tick feeding was 15 days, making it virtually impossible for any ticks to reach ovipositional status prior to a subsequent treatment. At a dosage rate of ~540 μg/kg, the concentration dropped below the baseline tick survival level (8 ppb) only once, following the initial treatment, and the duration during which the concentration remained below the baseline level prior to the subsequent treatment was only 6 days. Thus, at the high dosage rate results indicated, with absolute certainty, that no ticks could successfully feed to repletion between any two consecutive treatments. Based on the data obtained in the study it was concluded that analysis of doramectin concentration in serum of treated animals would be a reliable predictor for assessing the probability that ticks could successfully develop to repletion. More importantly, results demonstrated that the trial policy, instituted by the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program, of repeatedly treating cattle with doramectin injections at 25–28 day intervals for eliminating cattle fever ticks would produce little or no risk of any viable ticks developing to repletion and re-infesting the field between treatment applications.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cooksey LM, Davey RB, Ahrens EH, George JE (1989) Suitability of white-tailed deer as hosts for cattle fever ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). J Med Entomol 26:155–158
Davey RB (1990) Failure of white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus L. to sustain a population of cattle ticks, Boophilus microplus (Say), through successive generations. J Parasitol 76:356–359
Davey RB, Garza J Jr, Thompson GD (1982) Seasonal observations on the development and ovipositional capability of Boophilus annulatus and B. microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) reared on bovines. J Med Entomol 19:24–28
Davey RB, Pound JM, Cooksey LM (1994) Comparative reproduction and nonparasitic development of Boophilus microplus and hybridized Boophilus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) under natural field conditions in subtropical South Texas. Exp Appl Acarol 18:185–200
Everitt JH, Alaniz MA (1982) Nutrient content of grasses growing on four range sites in South Texas. USDA, ARS Agric. Res. Results. ARR-S-11. pp 20
George JE, Davey RB (2004) 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
Graham OH, Hourrigan JL (1977) Eradication programs for the arthropod parasites of livestock. J Med Entomol 13:629–658
Hatch SL, Gandhi KN, Brown LE (1990) Checklist of the vascular plants of Texas. Texas Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. No. MP-1655. pp 158
Lanusse C, Lifschitz A, Virkel G, Alvarez L, Sanchez S, Sutra JF, Galtier P, Alvinerie M (1997) Comparative plasma disposition kinetics of ivermectin, moxidectin, and doramectin in cattle. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 20:91–99
Miller JA, Davey RB, Oehler DD, Pound JM, George JE, Ahrens EH (1999) Control of Boophilus annulatus (Say) (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle using injectable microspheres containing ivermectin. J Econ Entomol 92:1142–1146
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (1983) Climatic atlas of the United States. Reprinted from: U.S. Dept. Commerce, Environ. Sci. Svc. Admin., Environ. Data Svc. (1968). pp 88
Nolan J, Schnitzerling J, Bird P (1985) The use of ivermectin to cleanse tick infested cattle. Aust Vet J 62:386–388
Oehler DD, Miller JA (1989) Liquid chromatographic determination of ivermectin in bovine serum. J Assoc Off Anal Chem 72:59
Pound JM, Miller JA, George JE, Oehler DD, Harmel DE (1996) Systemic treatment of white-tailed deer with ivermectin-medicated bait to control free-living populations of lone star ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). J Med Entomol 33:385–394
Pound JM, George JE, Kammlah DM, Lohmeyer KH, Davey RB (2010) Evidence for role of white-tailed deer (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in epizootiology of cattle ticks and southern cattle ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in reinfestations along the Texas/Mexico border in South Texas: A Review and Update. J Econ Entomol 103:211–218
Systat Software (2009–2010) Sigma Plot® 11.2 User’s guide. San Jose, CA
Texas Tech University (1997) The mammals of Texas-online edition; White-tailed deer. www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/odocvirg.htm
Toutain PL, Upson DW, Terhune TN, McKenzie ME (1997) Comparative pharmacokinetics of doramectin and ivermectin in cattle. Vet Parasitol 72:3–8
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Michael Moses for his technical assistance. We also thank Caesario Agado and James Hellums for handling of the animals and assistance with obtaining blood samples.
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. 78028. The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political befiefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Davey, R.B., Pound, J.M., Klavons, J.A. et al. Analysis of doramectin in the serum of repeatedly treated pastured cattle used to predict the probability of cattle fever ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) feeding to repletion. Exp Appl Acarol 56, 365–374 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-012-9525-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-012-9525-1