Progress 08/15/04 to 08/14/07
Outputs
Responses of female Gulf Coast ticks from geographic strains originating in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas were evaluated in a petri-dish bioassay. The bioassay provided the female ticks with point sources for choice that included 8-day fed male Gulf Coast ticks that were emitting an Aggregation Attraction Attachment Pheromone verified by solid phase microextraction and gas chromotography techniques. These experiments were conducted to test the geographic or strain specificity of respective females for corresponding male ticks within this species. Identification of the components of the AAAP male pheromone were determined by capturing the pheromone from fed male ticks using solid phased microextraction (SPME) technology. The volatile materials collected were then submitted to gas chromotography (GC) and mass spectroscopy (MS) for separation of the volative components and corresponding identification. The components identified through these procedures were then bioassayed
using a Y-tube olfactometer to test for biological activity to female ticks from each corresponding strain. Discoveries from this project were prepared and reviewed by our office of Technology Commercialization for potential patent and licensing. Dissemination of findings from this project have been delayed by the patent and licensing review, however these issues have been resolved and our discoveries will now be submitted to publication in scientific journals, presented to scientists and animal health company representatives at industry meetings in 2008, as well as released to producer groups through AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension news releases.
Impacts
The resources provided through this project enabled an interdisciplinary group of scientists to conduct a series research activities directed at defining a pheromone essential to mate finding and reproduction in the Gulf Coast tick. Through this project, we have been able to show that the Attraction Aggregation Attraction Pheromone produced by feeding male Gulf Coast ticks is comprised of four principle chemical compounds. We found the blend of these compounds to be variable reflecting differences in pheromone function, differences in tick-host interaction, and/or differences in strain origin. We have identified each of the four principle components of the pheromone and demonstrated evidence of biological activity. The outcome of these findings will enable us to target the pheromone-mediated process of mate-finding and reproduction in this tick by designing either sustained-release delivery systems in combination with acaricides to kill ticks, or to design methods to
disrupt the signals needed for successful tick recruitment, feeding and mating. The outcome of these findings are expected to lead to testing and development of devices such as the acaricide-impregnated cattle ear tags which could be enhanced for Gulf Coast tick suppression with addition of a pheromone component to improve attraction and kill of this pest. These discoveries will impact cow-calf operations along the Gulf Coast states, and especially in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Annual losses to cattle and calves marketed in TX, OK, and KS alone exceeds $5M, without consideration for costs of handling and treating animals.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Principal volatile compounds produced by male Gulf Coast ticks feeding on cattle and eliciting attraction, aggregation, attachment behavioral responses in female ticks have been isolated with the aid of gas chromotography and identified with mass spectroscopy. Each of these compounds has been tested for biological activity to female ticks by olfactometry. Results of these experiments will be the subject of a provisional patent application.
Impacts
The Gulf Coast tick is an annual economic pest of cattle throughout Gulf Coast states and the Southern Plains. The Gulf Coast tick has been implicated as a potential vector of heartwater, a foreign animal disease that may enter the US from the Caribbean. A pheromone produced by feeding male ticks has the potential to be used as a tick suppression and surveillance tactic in on- and off-host applications improving strategies for tick management.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Identification of volatile compounds found in feeding male Gulf Coast ticks is continuing. Bioassay evaluations will begin when these identifications have been completed.
Impacts
The Gulf Coast tick is an annual economic pest of cattle throughout Gulf Coast states and the Southern Plains. In addition, the Gulf Coast tick has been implicated as a putative vector of heartwater, a foreign animal disease that may enter the US from the Caribbean. A male pheromone has the potential to be incorporated with acaricides for on-host control strategies and could be used in several surveillance tactics.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
This project has been initiated to test the geographic specificity of the AAAP phermone of the Gulf Coast tick. Ongoing experiments using a petri-dish bioassay of the response of geographic-strain specific female Gulf Coast ticks to 8-day fed male ticks from three geographic strains (Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas) to determine whether female ticks prefer the AAAP pheromone from their strain specific males over other strains. These experiments will be completed and analyzed in early 2005.
Impacts
The Gulf Coast tick is an annual economic pest of cattle throughout Gulf Coast states and the Southern Plains. In addition, the Gulf Coast tick has been implicated as a putative vector of heartwater, a foreign animal disease found in the Caribbean. Incorporation of an attraction-aggregation-attachment pheromone (from males) has the potential to be incorporated with acaricides for on-host control strategies and could be used in several surveillance tactics.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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