A recent collaborative study involving Texas A&M’s Department of Entomology and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened exciting new avenues for genetic solutions to manage ticks that carry harmful diseases.
Genetic Discoveries in Tick Management
In an insightful publication, graduate student Jason Tidwell from Texas A&M’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, who also works at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service Cattle Fever Tick Research Unit in Edinburg, has identified key genetic strategies to tackle cattle fever ticks—known for spreading the disease bovine babesiosis, historically called Texas cattle fever.
Tidwell’s research dives deep into the genetics of arthropods, with a particular focus on the cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus microplus.
His work highlights significant genetic markers that play a crucial role in determining the sex of these invasive ticks, a factor that poses a continuous threat to livestock in the U.S.
Collaborative Insights: A Path to Better Tick Management
Dr. Kimberly Lohmeyer, who leads the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville, underscored the value of Tidwell’s findings.
They reveal an essential aspect of pest biology that can be leveraged to create innovative control strategies.
Lohmeyer believes this research paves the way for developing practical solutions to combat disease-carrying ticks.
Tidwell’s pursuit of genetic approaches to tackle significant pest issues has resulted in discoveries that could protect U.S. livestock from the dangers posed by cattle fever ticks.
His advisor, Dr. Pete Teel of Texas A&M AgriLife’s Department of Entomology, emphasized the significance of understanding sex determination mechanisms.
This crucial knowledge could inspire new pest control methods already seen in the management of other arthropod species, like the primary screwworm and various mosquito populations.
The research team has pinpointed specific chromosomes in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus that govern male and female development.
These findings could catalyze innovative strategies for better managing these disease-vectors and potentially others.
Laying the Groundwork for Future Innovations in Tick Control
The USDA’s Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program—a joint effort with the Texas Animal Health Commission—aims to prevent the reinfestation of cattle fever ticks in the United States.
This program has successfully eradicated these ticks since it began in 1906, except for a designated quarantine area in South Texas.
Cattle fever ticks are particularly concerning as they exclusively transmit bovine babesiosis pathogens.
This makes controlling their populations critical to minimizing the associated disease risks.
Despite the absence of authorized vaccines or effective treatments for this illness, chemical control methods have been the primary line of defense.
But with resistance to traditional acaricides on the rise, genetic control approaches signal a promising alternative.
Tidwell has proposed a novel idea: adjusting the sex ratios of ticks in their environment to disrupt their reproduction and dramatically decrease their numbers.
Similar strategies have yielded success in controlling Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which spread diseases affecting humans.
This technique could hold promise not just for cattle fever ticks, but potentially for managing tick-borne diseases in humans, including Lyme disease.
Dr. Aaron Tarone, another co-advisor to Tidwell and an AgriLife Research scientist, noted that implementing any new approaches will require careful consideration of sustainability—both environmentally and economically.
He remains optimistic about the future possibilities stemming from this research, with plans to examine tick genomes from local populations to understand genetic diversity better.
Thanks to advances in genomics, there are numerous avenues to explore in addressing the threats posed by vectors to both public and animal health.
Source: ScienceDaily