Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it? The horn fly and stable fly are major deterrents to cost-effective beef cattle production. Currently, insecticides are the primary and, in most cases, the sole means of control. New and innovative control technologies are needed to reduce or eliminate our reliance on pesticides and to preserve the utility of existing chemicals by delaying the onset of resistance to these chemicals. The overall objectives of this research are to discover, develop, and deploy effective, environmentally safe tools and sustainable strategies for the integrated management of livestock pests. We develop novel pesticide delivery systems that include passive topical treatments as well as controlled/sustained release treatment devices. We continue to investigate new classes of chemicals with different modes of action through both laboratory (in vivo and in vitro assays) and field trials. In order to reduce our
dependency on synthetic pesticides, we investigate the use of biological, biochemical, and physical technologies. Our studies determine the vulnerability of horn flies and stable flies to fungal pathogens, natural products such as neem, proteinases inhibitors, and alteration of genes that regulate diapause in the horn fly. These studies include the identification and exploitation of resistant cattle genotypes. We develop and use computer simulation models to identify practical and sustainable strategies for integrated management of the horn fly, and to investigate the efficacy of such strategies on field populations as a means of delaying the onset of resistance. 2. How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? The livestock industry provides approximately 50% of the annual agricultural income of the U.S. Potential economic losses, as a result of uncontrolled parasitism by arthropod pests, is estimated at $2.2 billion annually. Potential losses to the beef cattle industry due
to the stable fly and the horn fly are estimated at $432 million and $876 million annually, respectively. An emerging problem of the stable fly parasitizing pastured cattle, in addition to known damage to cattle in feedlots and dairies, will greatly increase estimates of losses attributable to this parasite once new data become available. Both the stable fly and the horn fly are important deterrents to cost-effective beef cattle production in an industry with minimal margins of profit. It is important that we develop sustainable management technologies for livestock pests in order to provide an abundant, reliable, economical, and safe supply of beef to the dinner table of the consumer. 3. How does it relate to the National Program(s) and National Program Component(s) to which it has been assigned? This research enables and promotes the development of technologies for the control of ectoparasites to reduce the cost of beef production. In addition, the research reduces the quantity
of pesticide used to control livestock pests by improving delivery systems and strategies. This research is relevant to the ARS National Program Action Plan and relates directly to a multitude of needs identified in NP 104, Arthropod Pests of Animals and Humans, which include: 1) lack of environmentally safe methods for control of pests and pathogens; 2) lack of tools for area- wide integrated management of arthropod pests of animals and humans and their associated pathogens; 3) lack of methods of management of pesticide resistance in arthropods and drug resistance in pathogens; 4) lack of effective field-ready methods for control of arthropod pests and their pathogens; and 5) lack of decision aids. 4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single Most Significant Accomplishment during FY 2002: Improved methods of delivering control agents can extend the life of a treatment, improve efficacy and reduce the quantity of pesticide needed. Studies to develop
control-release injectable formulations of avermectins were conducted at the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kerrville, TX. A long-lasting, bioabsorable, subcutaneous injectable delivering doramectin was developed and shown to provide 100% control of horn flies in the manure of treated cattle for 14 weeks, 40% of adult horn flies and 100% of lone star ticks feeding on the blood of the animals for 8 weeks, and greater than 60% of the ticks feeding at 12 weeks post-injection. This delivery system offers potential, both in horn fly control and in tick eradication programs. B. Other Significant Accomplishments, if any. The selection for natural resistance to livestock pests, such as horn flies and ticks, may provide an effective management tool. Studies were conducted at the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kerrville, TX, to define the distribution of horn flies on low and high fly-carrying cows. Data from phenotyping of 61
herd cows and 33 calves revealed that although the number of flies change on individual animals, the percentage of the population they carry varies little from observation to observation. This technique of identification and selection of low and high carriers could be useful for herd improvement for natural resistance to horn flies as it has been used against lice. C. Significant Accomplishments/Activities that Support Special Target Populations. None. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. Over the life of the CRIS, significant accomplishments occurred in two areas: 1) research on basic biological factor influencing the population dynamics of horn flies, and 2) research to improve the choices of technology available for controlling horn flies and ticks. Using a molecular genetic set of experiments, gene expression profiles for non- diapausing and diapausing horn flies were developed and specific genes
selected for sequencing to assist in determining gene function. The identification of regulators of diapause could lead to the development of novel targets for new horn fly control agents [NP 104, Needs 1) lack of environmentally safe methods for control of pests and pathogens; and 2) lack of tools for area-wide integrated management of arthropod pests of animals and humans and their associated pathogens; Milestone (18 months), Isolation of putative diapause-induced and diapause-repressed cDNAs from differential display RT-PCR experiments.] Developmental thresholds for size of horn fly pupae were determined. Substantial decrease in pupal size and, hence, decreased eclosional success was obtained by nutrient deprivation of horn fly larvae by presence of sublethal amounts of Bacillus thuringiensis toxin, or by larval crowding. These results indicate that overall reduction in fly populations may result from combinations of nonlethal treatments that substantially reduce fly larval
growth [NP 104, Needs 1) lack of environmentally safe methods for control of pests and pathogens; and 2) lack of tools for area-wide integrated management of arthropod pests of animals and humans and their associated pathogens; Milestone (18 months), Isolate digestive protease(s) and determine the physiological effects of protease inhibitors in the diet.] This information will be useful in development of more precise computerized modeling of IPM treatment effects on horn fly populations. Novel systems, such as sustained-release boluses, neckbands, implants and bioabsorbable, injectable microspheres, have been developed for the delivery of chemical pest control agents that enhance the level and duration of control, reduce the quantity of pesticide needed for control, and increase the safety of chemical usage [NP 104, Needs 1) lack of environmentally safe methods for control of pests and pathogens; and 2) lack of tools for area-wide integrated management of arthropod pests of animals
and humans and their associated pathogens; and 4) lack of effective field-ready methods for control of arthropod pests and their pathogens; Milestone (36 months), Determine relative toxicity of new chemistries as topical, oral, and/or systemic treatments against the horn fly and stable fly; develop sustained release bolus for delivery of azadirachtin for control of larval horn flies.] 6. What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years? During Fiscal Year 2004, the efficacy of the fungi, Beauveria bassina, Metarhizium anisopliae (Strain ESCI) and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, and means of enhancing infectivity will be evaluated against the horn fly, both in bioassays and on cattle. Methods of oral delivery of new formulations of azadirachtin to cattle, including a feed premix and a ruminal bolus, for the control of horn flies breeding in manure will be developed. Phenotype an additional 45-60 calves from our family pedigree for their susceptiblity to infestation
with the horn fly and the lone star tick. Purify the horn fly anticoagulant, thrombostasin, and evaluate the ability of thrombostasin to inhibit clotting of individual cattle plasma samples. This project terminates at the end of 2004 and will be replaced with a related, new peer-reviewed project. During Fiscal Year 2005, a method of treating cattle with a stabilized formulation of the conidia of B. bassiana will be developed for horn fly control. Determine the infectivity of B. bassinana, M. anisopliae, and P. fumosoroseus on the stable fly. In cooperation with the Midwest Livestock Insect Laboratory, determine the relationship between changing cultural practices and the increased problem of stable flies on pastured cattle. Phenotype an additional 45-60 calves from our family pedigree for their susceptibility to infestation with the horn fly and the lone star tick. Begin to genome scan genomic DNA collected from photyped members of our family pedigree. Development of a
practical and improved horn fly trap will be completed. During Fiscal Year 2006, we will complete the development of the computer-assisted decision-aid for use by producers to create a strategic horn fly management programs. In cooperation with the Midwest Livestock Insects Laboratory, develop technology for the control of stable flies on pastured cattle. Phenotype an additional 45-60 calves from our family pedigree for their susceptibility to infestation with the horn fly and the lone star tick. Gene mine the genomic DNA from our family pedigree for polymorphism within the bovine thrombin gene. Investigate the potential for exploiting diapause as a control alternative for horn flies. 8. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: This does not replace your peer-reviewed publications listed below). Miller, J.A., Pound, J. M. 2002 November 17-20. Macrocyclic lactones for control of
ectoparasites on cattle and other ungulates. Presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Miller, J.A., Pound, J.M., Lohmeyer, K.H., Klavons, J.K. 2003 June 22-25. An injectable long-lasting gel formulation of for delivery of doramectin. Presented at the 47th Annual Livestock Insect Workers Conference, Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Pound,J.M., Miller, J.A., Oehler, D.D. 2003 June 22-25. Degradation rate of doramectin from serum of white-tailed deer. Presented at the 47th Annual Livestock Insect Workers Conference, Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Pruett, J.H., Miller, J.A., Pound, J.M., George, J.E., Steelman, C.D. 2003 June 22-25. Breeding for ectoparasite resistane, an update on an ongoing project. Presented at the 47th Annual Livestock Insect Workers Conference, Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- CRUZ-VAZQUEZ, C., ALTIMIRA, G., RAMOS, M., MEDINA, L., GARCIA-VAZQUEZ, Z., GEORGE, J.E. SUSCEPTIBILITY OF HAEMATOBIA IRRITANS (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE) TO PERMETHRIN IN DAIRIES IN AGUASCALIENTES, MEXICO. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY. v. 39. p. 939-941.
- NACHMAN, R.J., COAST, G.M., TICHY, S., RUSSELL, D.H., MILLER, J.A., PREDEL, R. OCCURRENCE OF INSECT KININS IN THE FLESH FLY, STABLE FLY AND HORN FLY - MASS SPECTROMETRIC IDENTIFICATION FROM SINGLE NERVES AND DIURETIC ACTIVITY. PEPTIDES, 2002. v. 23. p. 1885-1894.
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Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it? The horn fly and stable fly are major deterrents to cost-effective beef cattle production. Currently, insecticides are the primary and, in most cases, the sole means of control. New and innovative control technologies are needed to reduce or eliminate our reliance on pesticides and to preserve the utility of existing chemicals by delaying the onset of resistance to these chemicals. The overall objectives of this research are to discover, develop, and deploy effective, environmentally safe tools and sustainable strategies for the integrated management of livestock pests. We develop novel pesticide delivery systems that include passive topical treatments, as well as controlled/sustained release treatment devices. We continue to investigate new classes of chemicals with different modes of action through both laboratory (in vivo and in vitro assays) and field trials. In order to reduce
our dependency on synthetic pesticides, we investigate the use of biological, biochemical, and physical technologies. Our studies determine the vulnerability of horn flies and stable flies to fungal pathogens, natural products such as neem, proteinases inhibitors, and alteration of genes that regulate diapause in the horn fly. These studies include the identification and exploitation of resistant cattle genotypes. We develop and use computer simulation models to identify practical and sustainable strategies for integrated management of the horn fly, and to investigate the efficacy of such strategies on field populations as a means of delaying the onset of resistance. 2. How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? The livestock industry provides approximately 50% of the annual agricultural income of the U.S. Potential economic losses, as a result of uncontrolled parasitism by arthropod pests, is estimated at $2.2 billion annually. Potential losses to the beef cattle industry
due to the stable fly and the horn fly are estimated at $432 million and $876 million annually, respectively. Both the stable fly and the horn fly are important deterrents to cost-effective beef cattle production in an industry with minimal margins of profit. It is important that we develop sustainable management technologies for livestock pests in order to provide an abundant, reliable, economical, and safe supply of beef to the dinner table of the consumer. 3. How does it relate to the national Program(s) and National Program Component(s) to which it has been assigned? This research enables and promotes the development of technologies for the control of ectoparasites to reduce the cost of beef production. In addition, the research reduces the quantity of pesticide used to control livestock pests by improving delivery systems and strategies. This research is relevant to the ARS National Program Action Plan and relates directly to a multitude of needs identified in NP 104,
Arthropod Pests of Animals and Humans, which include: 1) lack of environmentally safe methods for control of pests and pathogens; 2) lack of tools for area- wide integrated management of arthropod pests of animals and humans and their associated pathogens; 3) lack of methods of management of pesticide resistance in arthropods and drug resistance in pathogens; 4) lack of effective field-ready methods for control of arthropod pests and their pathogens; and 5) lack of decision aids. 4. What was your most significant accomplishment this past year? A. Single Most Significant Accomplishment during FY 2001 year: Because horn flies are developing resistance to currently available insecticides, it is important to maintain an arsenal of effective and safe control agents with a variety of modes of actions. The effectiveness, individually and in combination, of two forms of the macrocyclic lactone product Spinosyn was determined against the horn fly in experiments done at the ARS
Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kerrville, TX. A combination of Spinosyn "A" plus "B" was effective against the horn fly and the "D" form of the insecticide proved to be approximately one-third as toxic as the Spinosyn "A". Spinosyn has potential as a control agent for horn flies on cattle, including the widespread populations of flies resistant to pyrethroid insecticides. B. Other Significant Accomplishments, if any. Cultural practices such as selection for natural resistance to horn flies may provide an effective horn fly management tool. Studies were conducted at the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kerrville, TX, to define the distribution of horn flies on low and high fly-carrying cows. Phenotyping of a 39-cow herd revealed that although the number of flies change on individual animals, the percentage of the population that they carry remains remarkably constant from observation to observation. This technique of
identification and selection of low and high carriers could be useful for herd improvement for natural resistance to horn flies as it has been used against lice. C. Significant Accomplishments/Activities that Support Special Target Populations: None 5. Describe your major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact? Over the life of the CRIS, significant accomplishments occurred in two areas: 1) research on basic biological factors influencing the population dynamics of horn flies, and 2) research to improve the choices of technology available for controlling horn flies and ticks. Using a molecular genetic set of experiments, gene expression profiles for non- diapausing and diapausing horn flies were developed and specific genes selected for sequencing to assist in determining gene function. The identification of regulators of diapause could lead to the development of novel targets for new horn fly control agents. Developmental
threshold for size of horn fly pupae were determined. Substantial decrease in pupal size and hence decreased eclosional success was obtained by nutrient deprivation of horn fly larvae, by presence of sublethal amounts of Bacillus thuringiensis toxin, or by larval crowding. These results indicate that overall reduction in fly populations may result from combinations of nonlethal treatments which substantially reduce fly larval growth. This information will be useful in development of more precise computerized modeling of IPM treatment effects on horn fly populations. Novel systems, such as sustained-release boluses, neckbands, implants and bioabsorbable, injectable microspheres, have been developed for the delivery of chemical pest control agents that enhance the level and duration of control, reduce the quantity of pesticide needed for control, and increase the safety of chemical usage. 6. What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years? During FY 2003, the
efficacy of the fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae (Strain ESCI) and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, and means of enhancing infectivity will be evaluated against the horn fly. An improved bolus formulation for the delivery of control agents to cattle for the control of horn flies breeding in manure will be developed. The identification of genes which are up- or down-regulated during the diapause induction period and the time course of their induction will be published. During FY 2004, a method of treating cattle with a stabilized formulation of the conidia of B. beauvaria will be developed for horn fly control. Digestive protease(s) will be isolated and the physiological effects of protease inhibitors in the diet of horn flies will be determined. During FY 2005, the progeny of an experimental cattle herd bred for innate resistance to the horn fly will be phenotyped for susceptibility to horn flies. Development of a practical and improved horn fly trap will be completed. The genes involved
in the regulation of horn fly diapause will be identified and the DNA sequence of gene regions, which regulate the expression of diapause inducible genes, will be published. 8. List your most important publications and presentations, and articles written about your work (NOTE: this does not replace your review publications which are listed below) Miller, J.A., Davey, R.B., Pound, J.M., George, J.E. 2002 June 23-26. Amitraz neckbands and tailtags for the control of Boophilus annulatus on cattle. 46th Annual Livestock Insect Workers Conference, Ruidoso, NM. Miller, J.A., Pound, J.M. 2002 April 19. Technology for the Control of Ticks Feeding on Deer and Other Wild Ungulates. Invited co-presentation to a Special Meeting of the Board of Directors and Tick Working Group of the Game Conservancy Trust of Scotland, Midlothian, Scotland. Pound, J.M., Miller, J.A. 2002 April 20. Technology for the Control of Ticks Feeding on Deer and Other Wild Ungulates. Co-presentation to the Members of the
Game Conservancy Trust of Scotland, Dunkled, Scotland. Pruett, J.H., Miller, J.A., Steelman, C.D. 2002 Feb 23-27. Population distribution of the horn fly Haematobia irritans (L.), on individual cattle within a herd of 23 outbred cows; phenotyping for the purpose of identifying high and low carriers of horn flies. Joint Meeting of the Southwestern Branch, ESA, and the Sociedad Mexicana Entomologia, Guanajuato, Mexico. Pruett, J.H., Miller, J.A., Pound, J.M., George, J.E., Steelman, C.D. 2002 June 23-26. Horn fly carrying capacity of individual cattle in a herd of outbred cows. Host selection or host resistance. 46th Annual Livestock Insect Workers Conference, Ruidoso, NM. Temeyer, K.B. 2001 December 8-13. Expression of Horn Fly Esterase E3 in the Baculovirus System. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, San Diego, CA.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Pruett, J.H. Immunological intervention for the control of ectoparasites of livestock - a review. 2 Indian Journal of Veterinary Parasitology. 2002. v. 16. p. 1-10.
- Temeyer, K.B., Soileau, L.C., Pruett, J.H. Cloning and sequence analysis of a cDNA encoding Pso o II, a mite group II allergen of the sheep scab mite (Acari: Psoroptidae). Journal of Medical Entomology. 2002. v. 39. p. 384-391.
- Torfs, H., Oonk, H.B., Vanden Broeck, J., Poels, J., Van Poyer, W., De Loof, A., Guerrero, F., Meloen, R.H., Akerman, K., Nachman, R.J. Pharmacological characterization of STKR, an insect G protein-coupled receptor for tachykinin-like peptides. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 2001. v. 48. p. 39-49
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