title: Control and eradication of chelonian tick infestations, with particular reference to vectors of heartwater.
abstract: Studies using the African tortoise tick (Amblyomma marmoreum) and leopard tortoises (Geochelone pardalis) demonstrated that cyfluthrin and permethrin were safe and efficacious acaricides for control of Amblyomma ticks on tortoises. A protocol was developed that successfully eradicated an A. sparsum infestation from a tortoise breeding facility in Florida. It involved treatment of all tortoises with a permethrin formulation, followed by treatment of the premises with a cyfluthrin formulation. Sentinel tortoises were later placed on the treated premises to establish successful tick eradication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110880, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0880, USA. burridgem@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Burridge
authors.forename: Leigh-Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Trevor F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Suman M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mahan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology; D016995:Ehrlichia ruminantium; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006357:Heartwater Disease / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007306:Insecticides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D009570:Nitriles; D026023:Permethrin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013983:Tick Control; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014426:Turtles / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009570:Nitriles; D011722:Pyrethrins; D026023:Permethrin; C052570:cyfluthrin