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A Review of Ticks and Screwworms Affecting Livestock in the Caribbean

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Abstract

Literature on the distribution, biology, seasonal population fluctuations, economic importance, acaricidal susceptibility and measures for the control of the cattle ticks Boophilus microplus Canst., Amblyomma cajennense Fab., A. variegatum. Fab. in the Caribbean has been critically reviewed. The ticks, which inflict about $62 million annual loss on the region’s livestock industry, are still susceptible to acaricides, despite a few populations of B. microplus showing 31- to 227-fold resistance to lindane and 15- to 67-fold resistance to carbaryl, chlorfenvinphos, dimethoate and crotoxyphos.

The screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax Coq. is widespread, except in Puerto Rico and Curacao, from where it has been eradicated. The annual cost of surveillance against the fly and treatment of cattle for myiasis is estimated to be about $59 million. Its eradication from the entire Caribbean region by insect sterile method is advocated.

Résumé

Revue a été faite des publications relatives á la distribution á la biologie, aux fluctuations saisoniéres de population, á l’importance économique, á la sensibilité aux acaricides et aux mesures d’enraiement des tiques du betail: Boophilus microplus Canst., Amblyomma cajennense Fab., A. variegatum Fab. dans les Caraibes. Ces tiques, qui entraînent une perte annuelle d’environ 62 millions de dollars E.U. dans l’activité d’élevange de la région restent sensibles aux acaricides, bien qu’il existe néanmoins quelques colonies de B. microplus dont la résistance au lindane est multipliée de 31 á 227 fois et dont celle au carbaryl, chlorfenvinphos, dimethoate et crotoxyphos, se situe entre 15 et 67 fois.

L’hypoderme Cochliomyia hominovorax Coq. est trés répandu, sauf á Puerto Rico et á Curacoa d’oú il a été éliminé. Le cout annuel de la prophylaxie de cette mouche et le traitement de la myasie des troupeaux est estimé á prés de 59 millions de dollars E. U. Il est suggéré de procéder á son éradication de l’ensemble de la région par la methods des insectes stériles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Jamaica

    S. C. Rawlins

  2. Zoology University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica

    A. Mansingh

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  1. S. C. Rawlins
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  2. A. Mansingh
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Rawlins, S.C., Mansingh, A. A Review of Ticks and Screwworms Affecting Livestock in the Caribbean. Int J Trop Insect Sci 8, 259–267 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400007323

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