Development of a low-dose fipronil deer feed: Bait-screening and range-finding to determine the optimal formulation to control blacklegged ticks feeding on white-tailed deer .

Lyme disease is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the U.S., and acaricidal feeds administered to white-tailed deer () have potential to disrupt blood feeding by the blacklegged tick, .

Efficacy of a federally approved flea bait, orally administered to white-footed mice (), against blood feeding larvae under simulated field conditions.

A promising alternative approach to conventional vector control practices is the use of systemic insecticides/acaricides orally administered to relevant mammalian host species to control blood feeding disease vectors. In the United States, Lyme disease continues to be the most prevalent vector-borne disease with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating approximately 500,000 Lyme disease infections each year. Previous research has demonstrated the potential usefulness of a low dose fipronil bait in controlling larvae feeding on white-footed mice.

Development of a low-dose fipronil deer feed: evaluation of efficacy against two medically important tick species parasitizing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) under pen conditions.

Background: Odocoileus virginianus (the white-tailed deer) is a key reproductive host for medically important tick species, including Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum. Orally administering a systemic acaricide to white-tailed deer has the potential to reduce tick reproduction, abundance and pathogen-infected tick bites. Prior studies have demonstrated considerable efficacy of a low-dose fipronil mouse bait in controlling larval I.

Efficacy of low-dose fipronil bait against blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) larvae feeding on white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) under simulated field conditions.

Background: Lyme disease, caused primarily by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the United States. Treatment of rodent pathogen reservoirs with an oral acaricide may suppress the production of infected host-seeking ticks posing a risk for human infection. A previous study showed that an oral fipronil bait effectively controlled larval Ixodes scapularis ticks on white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) up to 15 days post-bait exposure.

Efficacy of a low dose fipronil bait against blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) larvae feeding on white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) under laboratory conditions.

Background: Lyme disease is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the USA with cases continuing to increase. Current control measures have not been shown to be impactful, and therefore alternatives are needed. Treating pathogen reservoirs with low dose systemic acaricides in endemic areas may provide a useful tool for disrupting the cycle of the vector and pathogen.

Short-term movement of Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a visceral leishmaniasis-endemic village in Bihar, India.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), transmitted by the sand fly, Phlebotomus argentipes, is frequently reported on the Indian subcontinent where its basic ecology is largely unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of sugar solution (10%), containing colored food dye (0.5%) applied to peridomestic vegetation, to mark P.

Field evaluation of low-dose warfarin baits to control wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in North Texas.

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a highly detrimental invasive species that occupy a rapidly expanding range within the United States. In Australia, field trials evaluating baits containing 0.09% warfarin resulted in wild pig population reduction >95%.

Field evaluation of a 0.005% fipronil bait, orally administered to Rhombomys opimus, for control of fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) and phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the Central Asian Republic of Kazakhstan.

Plague (Yersinia pestis) and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (Leishmania major) are two rodent-associated diseases which are vectored by fleas and phlebotomine sand flies, respectively. In Central Asia, the great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) serves as the primary reservoir for both diseases in most natural foci. The systemic insecticide fipronil has been previously shown to be highly effective in controlling fleas and sand flies.

Bionomics of Phlebotomus argentipes in villages in Bihar, India with insights into efficacy of IRS-based control measures.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a deadly vector-borne disease. Approximately 90% of Indian VL cases occur in Bihar, where the sand fly, Phlebotomus argentipes, is the principal vector. Sand fly control in Bihar consists of indoor residual spraying (IRS), the practice of spraying the inner walls of village dwellings with insecticides.

Preliminary efficacy investigations of oral fipronil against Anopheles arabiensis when administered to Zebu cattle (Bos indicus) under field conditions.

Globally, malaria remains one of the most important vector-borne diseases despite the extensive use of vector control, including indoor residual spraying (IRS) and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). These control methods target endophagic vectors, whereas some malaria vectors, such as Anopheles arabiensis, preferentially feed outdoors on cattle, making it a complicated vector to control using conventional strategies. Our study evaluated whether treating cattle with a capsule containing the active ingredient (AI) fipronil could reduce vector density and sporozoite rates, and alter blood feeding behavior, when applied in a small-scale field study.

Efficacy of a fipronil bait in reducing the number of fleas (Oropsylla spp.) infesting wild black-tailed prairie dogs.

Bubonic plague (Yersinia pestis) is a deadly zoonosis with black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) as a reservoir host in the United States. Systemic insecticides are a promising means of controlling the vectors, Oropsylla spp. fleas, infesting these prairie dogs, subsequently disrupting the Y.

Evaluation of a topical formulation of eprinomectin against Anopheles arabiensis when administered to Zebu cattle (Bos indicus) under field conditions.

Background: Although vector control strategies, such as insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) have been effective in Kenya the transmission of malaria continues to afflict western Kenya. This residual transmission is driven in part by Anopheles arabiensis, known for its opportunistic blood feeding behaviour and propensity to feed outdoors. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of the drug eprinomectin at reducing malaria vector density when applied to cattle (Bos indicus), the primary source of blood for An.

Measures to Control Phlebotomus argentipes and Visceral Leishmaniasis in India.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a deadly parasitic disease that is transmitted via the bite of a female sand fly, Phlebotomus argentipes. The highest burden of this disease is in northern India. In 2005, India embarked on an initiative with Nepal, Bangladesh, and the World Health Organization to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis by 2015.

Treatment of livestock with systemic insecticides for control of Anopheles arabiensis in western Kenya.

Background: Despite the implementation of vector control strategies, including insecticide-treated bed nets (ITN) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) in western Kenya, this area still experiences high level of malaria transmission. Novel vector control tools are required which target such vector species, such as Anopheles arabiensis, that feed outdoors and have minimal contact with ITNs and IRS.

Methods: To address this need, ivermectin, eprinomectin, and fipronil were evaluated in Zebu cattle under semi-field conditions to evaluate the potential of these compounds to reduce the survival of blood feeding An.

Evaluation of fipronil oral dosing to cattle for control of adult and larval sand flies under controlled conditions.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne disease endemic to the Indian subcontinent. The Phlebotomus genus of sand flies is the vector for VL in the Old World, with the vector on the Indian Subcontinent being Phlebotomus argentipes. Cattle are a commodity in this region and a frequent host source of P.

The role of Palmyra palm trees (Borassus flabellifer) and sand fly distribution in northeastern India.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), known as Kala-azar in India, is a parasite transmitted by the bite of the sand fly vector Phlebotomus argentipes. Published information on the species indicates it is a poor flyer, mainly hopping and gliding. This study describes the vector as more arboreal than previously documented.

Field efficacy of rodent bait containing the systemic insecticide imidacloprid against the fleas of California ground squirrels.

The efficacy of rodent bait containing the insecticide imidacloprid was evaluated for controlling fleas on the California ground squirrel, Spermophilus beecheyi. The bait was designed to deliver an oral dose of insecticide resulting in flea mortality when obtaining a blood meal. During the five-week trial, performed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Santa Barbara County, CA, a spot-baiting technique was used to apply bait to ground squirrel burrows.