Source: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA submitted to
IMPROVING MANAGEMENT OF THE BROWN DOG TICK, RHIPICEPHALUS SANGUINEUS, IN SOUTHEASTERN RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
3D GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0219082
Grant No.
2009-41530-05595
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2009-01253
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2009
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2012
Grant Year
2009
Program Code
[QQ.S]- Integrated Pest Management - South Region
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611
Performing Department
Entomology and Nematology
Non Technical Summary
The brown dog tick (BDT), is common across the United States. This is the only tick that can complete its life cycle indoors, making it particularly difficult to control. Reported infestations continue to increase yearly as has the difficulty in eliminating residential infestations using standard control protocols. BDT infestations are one of the few remaining pests that cannot be controlled with targeted applications of baits. As a result, the risk of pesticide exposure for residents is high. It is not uncommon for elimination of this pest from a home to take 6 months to a year. During this time, monthly or bi-weekly pesticide applications are made to homes and animals, greatly increasing pesticide exposure in residents and their children. Simultaneously, the outdoor areas of homes are also treated regularly. And, though all of this effort, if one female tick successfully evades the treatments, she is capable of ovipositing up to 5,000 larvae, resetting the treatment clock. Overall goal: Reduce misuse and overuse of pesticides in homes that are ineffective against the BDT. We will accomplish these goals through cooperative efforts of the Pest Control Industry (PCI), University and USDA collaborators in the southeastern US. Through our extension objectives, we will deliver much-needed PCI management protocols and brochures. Residential areas account for a considerable portion of the Southern region and direct contact with pesticides occurs in homes far in excess than that in food and fiber, making this project highly relevant to stakeholders. Furthermore, >37% or >43 million US households have dogs. Through our results, PCI personnel will effectively target BDT infestations, thereby reducing pesticides applied in homes and around children. We anticipate that BDT management will be markedly improved following the development and delivery of our Best Management Practices protocol for BDT management. When our brochures are provided to the pest control industry, technicians will have a well thought out plan for tackling the formidable task of managing a tick infestation in a home. After receiving the companion brochure, residents will better understand their roles and responsibilities in managing this tick, resulting in fewer callbacks and less pesticide applied inside homes.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
31238301130100%
Knowledge Area
312 - External Parasites and Pests of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3830 - Pets (companion animals);

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
1. Disseminate Southeastern brown dog tick acaricide resistance status to stakeholders to prevent unnecessary pesticide applications The beneficial impacts of this objective are assured by our contacts with the pest control industry and contact with clientele through our extension programs. The deliverables of this objective include one continuing education credit (CEU) of material, approved by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, related to ticks, resistance and management to be posted at the UF/IFAS Extension e-Learning portal (http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/); an extension publication posted at EDIS and eXtension on the status of tick resistance from sampled populations and 4-6 presentations to pest control operators at various locations throughout the state. The need: In recent years, the topic of resistance management in structural pest control has decreased in significance, in part, due to numerous effective active ingredients and formulations. We have a whole generation of pest control operators who do not understand the principles of product rotation and modes of action in relation to treatment selection. Ticks are one of the few pests where such a limited number of active ingredients, predominantly from the pyrethroid class, are approved for the sites that infestations occur. Resistance has been observed in the industry, but not documented with research. The immediate impacts: The reduction of unnecessary applications of a product that is ineffective because of resistance, resulting in reduced human exposure, less pesticide load in the environment and economic savings, as product is not being wasted on an ineffective treatment. 2. Develop and distribute Best Management Practices for control of the brown dog tick in residential environments The deliverables of this objective include 1) a guideline for Best Management Practices directed toward the pest control industry and 2) a companion piece oriented toward homeowners for pest control operators to use or leave behind since ticks cannot generally be controlled without homeowner cooperation. The need: Currently, there are no data on resistance or treatment strategies to overcome and avoid resistance for the BDT. Our results will enable us to develop a protocol that will be made available to all individuals and companies, outlining the most effective steps in eliminating tick infestations. Our guidelines will be developed through collaborative efforts with the pest control industry, making adoption by the industry all the more likely. The companion piece will ensure that homeowners are provided with critical information needed to gain control of tick infestations. Immediate impacts: Anecdotal information from pest control operators indicates that chemicals alone are not enough to solve tick infestations and that an IPM approach will result in economic benefit because of more resounding control and a decreased number of retreatment visits. The benefits to human health and the environment will also result from the more selective use of pesticides and improvement incorporation with other IPM strategies.
Project Methods
Obj. 1. Disseminate southeastern brown dog tick acaricide resistance status to stakeholders to prevent unnecessary pesticide applications Our existing extension electronic and print publications and web sites will be updated with the information identified in the research objectives, including the current status of resistance to commonly used acaricides. Materials will be delivered to pest control industry representatives through our extension programs via one continuing education credit (CEU) of material related to ticks, resistance and management to be posted at the UF/IFAS Extension's e-Learning portal; an extension publication posted at EDIS and the nationwide portal eXtension on the status of tick resistance from sampled populations and 4-6 presentations to pest control operators at various locations throughout the state of Florida. The extension presentations given by Oi and Kaufman will be posted for county extension faculty use as well as distributed to the Southern Regional School IPM Working Group. Obj. 2. Develop and distribute Best Management Practices for control of the BDT in residential environments We will develop two products. First, a Best Management Practices document with companion piece for homeowners will be developed that will provide easy-to-adopt guidelines for Pest Control Industry (PCI). The document set will be printed and distributed at pest control association meetings and county extension offices throughout the region. We will also post a publication-ready electronic version of the document through the eXtension, IPM Florida and UF/IFAS websites. The best management practices publication will also include a "feedback" page including 3-5 questions and a comment section. Second, we will develop a resistance-screening program that will be made available to the PCI and other stakeholders. This program will allow us to inexpensively track resistance development in tick populations through the use of our genetic screening process. Evaluation of Deliverables Obj. 1. 1)Training related deliverables: One continuing education credit (CEU) of material related to tick resistance and management to be posted at the UF/IFAS Extension's e-Learning portal and 4-6 presentations to pest control operators at various locations throughout the state. a. Number of CEUs taken. b. Pre- and post-test scores can be compared to measure knowledge gained after training. 2)Publication related deliverables: Extension publications posted at EDIS and eXtension on the status of tick resistance from sampled populations; The School IPM program newsletter where we will highlight tick management options. a. Numbers of visits to webpages and numbers printed and distributed. Obj. 2. 1)The deliverables of this objective include 1) a guideline for Best Management Practices directed toward the pest control industry and 2) a companion piece oriented toward homeowners for pest control operators to use or leave behind for customers since ticks cannot generally be controlled without homeowner cooperation. a. Number of publications delivered b. Feedback page results

Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities included on site client support (Sept 12, 2011) to a kennel in St. Augustine to discuss currently practiced control strategies, more effective control strategies and protocols to control and exclude BDT from future introductions, and collect ticks for research. Contacted pest control companies through Pest Management University alumni to communicate control strategies. Client support also included providing control information and what we know about insecticide resistance to a school district that had a teacher with a service dog that was tick-infested which involved school administration, the teacher's union and the protection of kindergarteners (total of 5 classrooms impacted with ticks). Dissemination of information was achieved by creation of website for BDT where the BMPs and homeowner information are posted (details listed under Publications) and added to eXtension (http://www.extension.org/pages/66160/best-management-practices-for-b rown-dog-ticks ) with same information in hard copy (10,000 print); distributed at Florida A&M University pest control recertification conference, Florida School Plant Management Association Annual (FSPMA) meeting, National Pest Management Association Annual Meeting, Manatee and Orange school districts. Information dissemination also included a PMU newsletter issue for PMPs distributed to all pest control companies in Florida, and technical journal article, circulation 10,000. In addition to scientific presentations listed below, we provided information on BDT through at least 10 pest control related training including those at Pest Management University (pest control industry training), at the National Pest Management Association annual convention (75 people representing and estimated 60 companies) and to the Florida School Plant Management Association. Training at the FSPMA certification course will impact: Lake County, 41,118 students Osceola County, 53,460 students Pasco County, 66,998 students Pinellas County, 104,055 students Brevard County, 71,872 students St. Petersburg Community College, 64,904 (credit and non-credit enrollment) TOTAL potential students impacted: 402,407 PARTICIPANTS: Amanda Eiden, Ph.D. student; Dr. Faith Oi, UF; Dr. Phillip E. Kaufman, UF; Dr. Robert Miller, USDA, ARS, KBLIRL Dr. Emma Weeks, UF; Lucas Carnohan, UF; Mark Halvorsen, UF; Lois Wood, UF; Corie Ritchie, UF; Dr. Phil Kaufman is the project PI and provided oversight for all objectives. Dr. Faith Oi provided guidance and training for the graduate student working on the project. Dr. Robert Miller provides guidance on resistance testing and training for the graduate student. Amanda Eiden conducted all laboratory studies. Dr. Emma Weeks, Lucas Carnohan, Mark Halvorsen, Lois Wood and Corie Ritchie assisted with laboratory studies and tick rearing. TARGET AUDIENCES: Florida's residents, small animal veterinarians, dog kennel operators, and dog shelter operators. Many of the topics of this project are utilized in Dr. Kaufman's Medical and Veterinary Entomology courses taught at the University of Florida. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Due to data indicating resistance, we were able to contact the pest control company and provide information on alternative methods of control and work with the kennel owner to also employ IPM strategies such as keeping grass and shrubs cut down to increase desiccation. A pre- and post-test was given to FSPMA attendees on BDT: The BDT is the only tick that can complete its whole life-cycle indoors, true or false. Pre-test: 50% correct Post-test: 87.5% correct The best control option for BDT control is spraying, true or false. Pre-test: 77.8% correct Post-test: 68.7% correct The BDT is a 3-host tick which means it must feed 3 times to complete its life-cycle true or false Pre-test: 50% correct Post-test: 87.5% correct

Publications

  • How to prevent and control dog ticks in your home BMP for brown dog ticks Authors: F. M. Oi, P. Kaufman, A. Eiden. 2012. 10,000 hard copies printed and e-copies posted at webpage developed by J. Gillett-Kaufman (http://pmu.ifas.ufl.edu/ticks.shtml ).
  • Oi, F. M. Wanted alive! We need your ticks. PMU Newsletter vol 2, issue 3, Feb. 9, 2012. http://pmu.ifas.ufl.edu/PMU%20News%20Volume%202%20number%203.pdf (Distributed to every pest control company in Florida)
  • Oi, F. M. 2011. Ticks by Way of Bed Bugs, Florida Pest Pro, Jan 2011, p. 28, 30; circulation of 10,000
  • Eiden, A., P. Kaufman, and F. Oi. 2012. Acaricide resistance in brown dog tick populations in Florida. 9th Arbovirus Surveillance and Mosquito Control Workshop. St. Augustine, FL. March 29, 2012.
  • Eiden, A.L., P.E. Kaufman, F.M. Oi, M.J. Dark and R. Miller. 2012. Status of acaricide resistance in the brown dog tick. Livestock Insect Workers Conference, Kalispell, MT.
  • Eiden, A.L., P.E. Kaufman, F.M. Oi. 2012. Acaricide resistance in Florida Rhipicephalus sanguineus populations. Florida Entomological Society Meeting, Jupiter Beach, FL. July 23, 2012.
  • Eiden, A.L., P.E. Kaufman, F.M. Oi, M.J. Dark and R. Miller. 2012. Acaricide resistance in Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Society of Vector Ecology Annual Meeting. St. Augustine, FL. September 24, 2012.
  • Eiden, A.L., P.E. Kaufman, F.M. Oi, M.J. Dark and R. Miller. 2012. Determination of acaricide resistance in Rhipicephalus sanguineus and evaluation of resistance mechanisms. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Knoxville, TN. November 12, 2012.
  • Extension presentations Oi, F. M. Ticks. Pest Management University, Apopka, FL. (Training) Feb 9-11, 2011 May 11-13, 2011 Aug 3-5, 2011 Oct 12-14, 2011 Feb 22-24, 2012 May 2-4, 2012 Jul 25-27, 2012 Oct 24-26, 2012
  • Oi, F. M., Ticks as part of 8 hour IPM certification training for the Florida School Plant Management Association, Orlando, FL Sept 4, 2012,. Attendees from:
  • Oi, F.M. Fleas, ticks and lice: The other blood suckers. National Pest Management Association Annual Convention. New Orleans, LA, Oct 19-22, 2011.


Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: An article was published on tick emergence for a widely distributed trade magazine. PARTICIPANTS: Amanda Eiden, Ph.D. student; Dr. Faith Oi, UF; Dr. Phil Kaufman, UF Dr. Phil Kaufman is the project PI and provided oversight for all objectives. Dr. Faith Oi will oversee the implementation of the projects extension components. Amanda Eiden is a graduate student who will generate the research results and assist with the extension deliverables development. TARGET AUDIENCES: Florida's residents, small animal veterinarians, dog kennel operators, and dog shelter operators. Many of the topics of this project are utilized in Dr. Kaufman's Medical and Veterinary Entomology courses taught at the University of Florida. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Extension component will be conducted when sufficient research results are obtained.

Publications

  • Oi, F. M. 2011. Ticks by Way of Bed Bugs, Florida Pest Pro, Jan 2011, p. 28, 30; circulation of 10,000


Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The extension component of this project will be delivered when the research has been advanced further. PARTICIPANTS: Amanda Eiden, Ph.D. student; Dr. Faith Oi, UF; Dr. Phil Kaufman is the project PI and provided oversight for all objectives. Dr. Faith Oi will oversee the implementation of the projects extension components. Amanda Eiden is a graduate student who will generate the research results and assist with the extension deliverables development. TARGET AUDIENCES: Florida's residents, small animal veterinarians, dog kennel operators, and dog shelter operators. Many of the topics of this project are utilized in Dr. Kaufman's Medical and Veterinary Entomology courses taught at the University of Florida. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
None - Extension component will be conducted when sufficient research results are obtained.

Publications

  • Kaufman, P.E. 2010. Managing the blood suckers: Fleas and ticks. Southeast Pest Management Conference. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. May 03, 2010.