title: Integrated control of Boophilus microplus ticks in Cuba based on vaccination with the anti-tick vaccine Gavac.
abstract: Boophilus microplus has developed resistance against a range of chemical acaricides which has stimulated the development of alternative methods such as vaccination against ticks. In Cuba, the Bm86-based recombinant vaccine Gavac has been successfully used in a number of controlled laboratory and field trials in cattle against B. microplus. In this paper, we have evaluated Gavac in a large scale field trial wherein 588,573 dairy cattle were vaccinated with the aim to reduce the number of acaricidal treatments. It was found that the number of acaricidal treatments could be reduced by 87% over a period of 8 years (1995--2003). Prior to the introduction of the vaccine, 54 clinical cases of babesiosis and six fatal cases were reported per 1000 animals. Six years later, the incidence of babesiosis was reduced to 1.9 cases per 1000 cattle and mortality reduced to 0.18 per 1000. The national consumption of acaricides in Cuba could be reduced by 82% after the implementation of the integrated anti-B. microplus control program.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ingeniería Genéticay Biotecnología, Cubanacan, Playa, Havana, Cuba. mrodriguez@cigb.edu.cu
authors.forename: Manuel Rodriguez
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mèndez
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valdez
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Redondo
authors.forename: Carlos Montero
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Milagro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Ricardo Lleonart
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Humberto Perez
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Barrios
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seoane
authors.forename: Emerio Serrano
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boue
authors.forename: Jorge Lodos
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vigil
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Carlos Borroto
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Nordelo
authors.forename: Marisdania Joglar
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Piñeiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003462:Cuba; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D007306:Insecticides; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D013997:Time Factors; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C085065:BM86 protein, Boophilus; D007306:Insecticides; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014612:Vaccines