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Funded Project

Funding Program: Regional IPM Grants (S-RIPM)

Project Title: Gulf Coast Tick Pheromone: IPM Application Across Geographic Strains

Project Director (PD): Pete Teel [1]

Lead State: TX Lead Organization: Texas A&M University

Research Funding: $60,094

Start Date: Aug-15-2004 End Date: Aug-14-2007

Pests Involved: ticks

Summary: Gulf Coast tick losses occurring in 20% of cattle marketed in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas alone is estimated to exceed $2.7 million (1986 value). This tick has been confirmed an efficient vector of a foreign animal disease called heartwater threatening US entry from the Caribbean. Current tick management with insecticide impregnated ear tags is often inadequate for tick suppression; and is also inconsistent with horn fly insecticide resistance management where horn fly resistance is a concomitant problem on pastured cattle. IPM tactics used in horn fly resistance management are ineffective against the Gulf Coast tick. The male aggregation-attachment pheromone (AAP) produced appears to be a powerful tool to attract ticks. New evidence shows pheromone variation across geographic strains may influence AAP applications. Impact of ticks on cattle fulfills strategic research plans of the Southern Region SAES, and meets research needs identified by USDA National Program Staff. Risk of Gulf Coast ticks as US vectors of heartwater prompted the National Cattlemans Beef Association to request Congress and USDA work to address growing concerns about preparedness for US heartwater outbreaks ("US Cattle Producers Set Policy Priorities & Initiatives for 2003" at www.beef.orq). Objectives: 1. Identify components of male aggregation-attachment pheromones from three geographic strains. 2. Determine which aggregation-attachment pheromone components elicit aggregation-attachment behavior across geographic strains.

Final Report:

Results PROGRESS: 2004/08 TO 2007/08 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. IMPACT: 2004/08 TO 2007/08 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 (not previously reported): 2004/08 TO 2007/08 No publications reported this period

Outcomes N/A

Impacts From report submitted by the PI to USDA CRIS report system 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.

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