Comparison of the efficacy of different methods to apply acaricides for control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

Nélio Moraes; João Eduardo Nicaretta; Daniel de Castro Rodrigues; Bruno César Ferreira Gonzaga; Mayara Macedo Barrozo; Francisca Letícia Vale; Lainny Jordana Pereira E Sousa; Ana Lúcia Coutinho; Gabriel Webert Gomes; Weslen Fabricio Pires Teixeira; Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes; Caio Monteiro

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102190

Comparison of the efficacy of different methods to apply acaricides for control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2023 Jul;14(4):102190. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102190. Epub 2023 May 9.

Affiliations

¹ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal da Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74.690-900, Brazil.
² Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal da Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74.690-900, Brazil; MSD Saúde Animal, Avenida Dr. Chucri Zaidan, 246-96, 9o Andar, São Paulo, SP CEP: 04583-110 Brasil.
³ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal da Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74.690-900, Brazil; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Goiás - Campus Colemar Natal e Silva - Rua 235, s/n - Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia, GO 74605-050 Brazil.
⁴ Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade Federal de Goiás. Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74.690-900, Brazil.
⁵ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal da Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74.690-900, Brazil; Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública da Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG). Rua 235, s/n, Setor Universitário, Campus Colemar e Silva, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74605-050, Brazil.
⁶ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal da Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74.690-900, Brazil; Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública da Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG). Rua 235, s/n, Setor Universitário, Campus Colemar e Silva, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74605-050, Brazil. Electronic address: caiosat@gmail.com.

PMID: 37167772
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102190

Abstract

The present study compared the efficacy of different methods to apply an acaricide formulation to control Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. To compare the methods, an acaricide blend containing three active ingredients (a pyrethroid and two organophosphates) was used. In experiment 1 (farm 1: Goiânia, GO, Brazil), three methods were tested: a backpack sprayer (BS), power sprayer (PS) and spray race (SR). In experiment 2 (farm 2: São José do Rio Pardo, SP, Brazil), two methods were tested: BS and PS. In both experiments, 10 cattle with similar tick burdens were used. On day 0 in both experiments, the animals were treated with the acaricide. On day +1 (only in experiment 1), +3, +7, +14, +21, +28 and +35 (only in experiment 2), tick counts were performed to determine the control efficacy. The time application, pressure (KPa), volume applied (L) and ergonomic aspects of each spraying system were also evaluated. The adult immersion test (AIT) using three different acaricide blends (combinations of pyrethroid + organophosphate) was performed to compare the susceptibility of strains of each farm. In experiment 1, all treatments significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the number of ticks on the animals, and PS resulted in the greatest acaricide efficacy since day +1. In experiment 2, both treatments (PS and BS) reduced (p < 0.05) the tick burden, and as observed in experiment 1, PS resulted in the best reduction. The application times were 4.5, 150 and 330 s, while pressures were 306.8, 4,826.3 and 220.6 KPa for SR, PS and BS, respectively. In the AIT, the efficacy values were between 99.8 and 100% for the tick strain form farm 1 (Goiânia), while for tick strain from farm 2 (São José do Rio Pardo), the efficacy was between 67.2 and 80.9%. We conclude that the sprayer methods chosen influences the efficacy of the acaricide. All sprayer methods were efficient for acaricide application; the best efficacy was obtained using the PS, while the SR resulted in good efficacy and lower application time. The strain from farm 2 was less susceptible to all acaricides tested.

Keywords: Backpack sprayer; Cattle tick; Power sprayer; Spray race.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acaricides* / pharmacology
Animals
Brazil
Cattle
Cattle Diseases* / prevention & control
Organophosphates
Pyrethrins* / pharmacology
Rhipicephalus*
Tick Infestations* / prevention & control
Tick Infestations* / veterinary

Substances

Acaricides
Pyrethrins
Organophosphates