Tick & Biting Fly Research Unit
Scientific Update
Adalberto A. Pérez de León et al.
ARS Administrator: Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young
Plains Area Director: Dr. Larry Chandler
The mission of the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory is defined by the combined missions of its two research units. Tick and Biting Fly Research Unit: its mission is to provide the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program of USDA-APHIS- Veterinary Services, the U.S. cattle industry, and the public, technology for eradicating or controlling ticks & blood-feeding flies of veterinary & medical importance. Screwworm Research Unit: its mission is to provide basic & applied research needed to facilitate the effort of USDA-APHIS to prevent screwworms from reinfesting Central & North America. Research by the Tick and Biting Fly Research Unit is done at the main laboratory in Kerrville, TX, & a sublaboratory, the Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory located at Moore Field, TX. Research by the Screwworm Research Unit is done at the
laboratory co-located with the Screwworm Production Facility at Pecora, Panama, & at the Kerrville laboratory.
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Global Center of Excellence in Livestock Entomology Research
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Get more information: www.ars.usda.gov
USDA-ARS Five-Year Research Cycle
T&BF Research Unit Research Projects
2015 – 2019 Cycle
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Genomics of Livestock Pests
• Lead Scientist: Dr. Felix Guerrero
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Cattle Fever Tick Eradication
• Lead Scientist: Dr. Pérez de León
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Flies Associated with Livestock Production Systems
• Lead Scientist: Dr. Kevin Temeyer
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Innovative Technologies to Control Invasive Species
that Impact Livestock
Veterinary Pest Genomics Center (VPGC): New Initiative
• High-consequence, and invasive veterinary pests remain a
problem for animal agriculture, and in some cases public health
• One Health implications
• Threat of invasive veterinary pests: global commerce &
climate change increase the probability for their movement & establishment in new areas
• Several invasive species impacting livestock production:
vectors of pathogens affecting other animals & humans
• Opportunity for research in genomics science to deliver
adaptive solutions to problems caused by veterinary pests: integration for sustainable animal agriculture
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Collaborative approach with interdisciplinary perspective considering global change
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Leverage own assets for mutually productive internal and external partnerships
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Developing collaboration with Whole Systems Genomics Initiative for Improved Human, Animal, and
Environmental Wellbeing at Texas A&M University
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Apply latest omics algorithms to unravel the genomes of high-consequence veterinary pests
such as the horn fly, cattle fever tick
Rhipicephalus annulatus
, stable fly, & the New World
screwworm
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Perform population genomics studies of veterinary pests in their indigenous & invasive
ranges to understand role of different evolutionary forces in shaping economically relevant
phenotypic variation
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Adapt models unifying genomic, biogeographic, temporal, and spatial parameters to refine
predictions for distributional changes & phenotypic qualities of invasive veterinary pests
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Mine genomes for, and translate research into transformative technologies that can be
integrated to mitigate the economic impact of veterinary pests for sustainable agriculture
VPGC - Overview
Genome of the horn fly: sequenced
First product of VPGC
• Developing IT infrastructure for big data capabilities at KBUSLIRL
• Asset: veterinary pest colonies at KBUSLIRL
• New insectary under construction
• Livestock research capabilities at KBUSLIRL and CFTRL
• Cattle research barns and biosecure pastures to be upgraded in FY15
• Meeting with TAMU partners in College Station, TX: September 2014
• Follow up meeting in October 2014
VPGC
Good Start
Acaricide Resistance Surveillance
in Outbreak Cattle Fever Ticks
Vigilancia de Resistencia a
Acaricidas en Garrapatas que
Causan Brotes
Dr. Donald Thomas Mr. Jason Tidwell Mrs. Dianne Kammlah Dr. Robert Miller Dr. Adalberto Pérez de León USDA-ARS Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory
Laboratorio de Investigacion Sobre Garrapata de Fiebre, DAEUA-SIA
United States – México Binational Boophilus spp. Tick Committee Meeting Comité Binacional Estados Unidos – México de Garrapata Boophilus spp.
Queretaro, Mexico, 20 May 2013 Queretaro, Mexico, 20 Mayo 2013
Comments
Comentarios
• Acaricide resistance events among CFT from outbreaks in U.S. mirror situation in Mexico
where all chemical classes are used in commercial products
• Los casos de resistencia a acaricidas en garrapatas causantes de brotes en los E.U.A.
semejan situacion en Mexico donde todos esas clases de quimicos son usadas en productos registrados
• Epidemiology of acaricide resistance in outbreak CFT remains to be fully understood
• Epidemiologia de resistencia a acaricidas en garrapatas causantes de brotes queda por
elucidarse
• Collaboration on surveillance between USDA-APHIS-VS, TAHC, USDA-ARS, and producers
functions as early warning system for emergence of acaricide resistance in outbreak CFT
• Colaboracion entre SV-SIFZS-DAEUA, CSAT, SIA-DAEUA, y productores representa sistema
de alerta temprano para emergencia de resistencia a acaricidas en garrapatas causantes de brotes
• CFT from Tamaulipas resistant to organophosphates, pyrethroids, and fipronil apparently
spilling over into the U.S.
• Aparentemente garrapatas de Tamaulipas resistentes a los organofosforados, piretroides, y
fipronil estan derramandose a los E.U.A.
• Resistance to avermectins like ivermectin and doramectin has NOT been detected
Conclusiones: Dos mecanismos de dispersión dan lugar a infestaciones con garrapata nuevas: 1) dispersión a corta distancia, frecuente desde la zona de cuarentena permanente; y 2) dispersión a larga distancia, provocada ocasionalmente por humanos con origen en poblaciones fuera del area bajo studio, probablemente Mexico. La amenaza de introducción de garrapatas a Texas aumenta con la resistencia a los acaricidas y la infestación de venados con R. microplus. El análisis de genética
poblacional puede proveer una herramienta poderosa para monitorear invasiones en otras partes del mundo donde la garrapata existe.
Giles et al. (2014): “R. annulatus, in view of its greater tolerance for seasonal extremes and temperature and precipitation minima, is the species most likely to re-establish in the greater United States”
Anti-tick vaccine technology for the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program
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In partnership with animal health industry & stakeholders, ARS scientists completed efficacy tests at
the Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory using novel formulation of Bm86-based vaccine
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Data evaluated by APHIS Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB)
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Vaccine produced by AH industry partner for further testing
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Protocol for field safety trial finalized
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Expect use of Bm86-based vaccine by CFTEP in cattle within the Permanent Quarantine Zone by
African Swine Fever Related Research Update
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Collected O. turicata
Visited TAMU-CVM Visited TVMDL
Participated in feral swine operation organized by APHIS-WS Attended FZAD meeting organized by DHS
