Summary
The performance of alphamethrin and flumethrin treated and untreated Bonsmara cows and calves grazing in the thornveld of the Eastern Cape Province was compared over a 2 year period. The economically important tick species occurred seasonally but in insufficient numbers to achieve enzootic stability with respect to babesiosis and anaplasmosis. No differences in live mass were observed for the cows, but the untreated calves were heavier at weaning than the acaricide treated group. Markedly lower numbers of ticks occurred on the calves than on the cows. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to planning alternative tick control strategies for the region.
Résumé
La performance de vaches et de veaux Bonsmar a traités ou non avec de la fluméthrine et de l'alphamétrine et paturant sur le veld épineux de la province est du Cap a été comparée sur une période de deux ans. Les espèces de tiques d'importance économique apparaissaient de façon saisonnière mais en nombres insuffisants pour entraîner à une stabilité enzootique vis-à-vis de la babésiose et de l'anaplasmose. Aucune différence dans le poids vif n'a été observée chez les vaches, mais les veaux non traités étaient plus lourds au sevraque que ceux du groupe traité à l'acaricide. Le nombre des tiques était nettement moins important sur les veaux que sur les vaches. Les implications de ces observations sont discutées par rapport aux stratégies de lutte contre les tiques.
Resumen
Se comparó durante 2 años la efectividad de alfametrin y flumetrin contra la infestación de garrapatas en vacas Bonsmara y terneros pastoreando en la “thornveld” de la Provincia Oriental del Cabo en Sudafrica. Las especies de garrapatas importantes económicamente ocurrieron estacionalmente, pero en número insuficiente para alcanzar estabilidad enzoótica con respecto a la anaplasmosis y la babesiosis. No se encontraron diferencias con respecto a la masa viva en las vacas, pero los terneros no tratados fueron más pesados al destete que los tratados con acaricidas. Un marcado menor número de garrapatas se encontró en los terneros que en las vacas. Se discuten las implicaciones de los hallazgos en relación a la planificación de alternativas para el control estratégico de garrapatas en la región.
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Fivaz, B.H., de Waal, D.T. Towards strategic control of ticks in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 25, 131–143 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02236231
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02236231