The cattle tick Boophilus microplus is a significant ectoparasite of cattle and a vector for important diseases such as babesiosis ClassificationSPC List D diseaseSusceptible speciesB. microplus is primarily a parasite of cattle. However, heavy infestations can also occur on horses, sheep, deer and waterbuffalo. Rarely, ticks have been reported on marsupials, goats, dogs, cats and pigs.Where it occursThe cattle tick is widely distributed in Central and South America, parts of the southern USA, Africa, Asia, and northernAustralia. The distribution of the cattle tick is largely determined by climatic factors. B. microplus requires high humidity andambient temperatures of at least 15-20o C for egg laying and hatching.Clinical signsCattle tick infestation causes: damage to hides loss of production anaemia and death weakness leading to greater mortalities during droughtsPost-mortem findingsAnimals may be in poor condition, anaemic. Infestations will be obvious by the presence of engorged ticks attached to theanimal's skin.Differential diagnosisSeveral species of ticks may be found on cattle and it is important to differentiate these from B. microplus. Other ticks include: Haemophysalis sp.. Ixodes holocyclus Specimens required for diagnosisTicks should be collected and forwarded to an entomologist for confirmation of the diagnosis. B. microplus has pale legs, shortmouth parts with transversely ridged palps, small eyes and lacks an anal groove.TransmissionThe life cycle involves free-living stages. After feeding on cattle, engorged female ticks drop to the ground and lay eggs (up to5000). After hatching, the larvae survive on pasture for several months. The larvae then become quite active and climb up grassand transfer to animals as they brush past. The larvae attach and feed from the host. They moult to the nymphal stage and thenundergo a further moult to the adult stage.Risk of introductionCattle ticks are mo...
