Cattle Fever Tick

What is the Cattle Fever

Tick?Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, and R. annulatus, *introduced by Spanish colonists*One host tick

Vectors for bovine babesiosis,-”Cattle Fever”

Bovine Babesiosis

• Caused by rapidly multiplying tick-borne protozoa– Babesia bovis and bigemina

• Red blood cell destruction

• Fatal to 90% of naïve cattle

• Fever tick is an integral part of disease spread

Bovine Babesiosis

Hosts Targeted by Fever Ticks

Cattle are the most efficient host, but horses, deer, and exotics also

sustain tick populations.

Fever Tick Eradication Challenges• Wildlife

– White-tail Deer• Population density

– Nilgai Antelope• Host size• Population density• Large range• No current treatments

• Climate• Mexico

A Dangerous Equation

Naïve Cattle + Fever Tick + BabesiaCattle Babesiosis Outbreak

Naïve Cattle + (Fever Tick – Babesia)No Babesiosis

Boophilus spp. Infestations

1906

Beginning of National Campaign

1943

National Eradication Campaign complete