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
Abstract 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, abun...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05689-1 |
| _version_ | 1797865432310349824 |
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| author | David M. Poché Donald Wagner Kylie Green Zachary Smith Noah Hawthorne Batchimeg Tseveenjav Richard M. Poché |
| author_facet | David M. Poché Donald Wagner Kylie Green Zachary Smith Noah Hawthorne Batchimeg Tseveenjav Richard M. Poché |
| author_sort | David M. Poché |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 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. scapularis parasitizing the pathogen reservoir, Peromyscus leucopus. No prior studies have evaluated the efficacy of a fipronil product in controlling ticks parasitizing white-tailed deer. Methods A pen study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a fipronil deer feed in controlling I. scapularis and A. americanum adult ticks. Individually housed deer (n = 24) were exposed to deer feed containing 0.0025% fipronil (fipronil deer feed) for 48 h and 120 h, and a control group of deer were exposed to an untreated placebo. On post-exposure day 7 and day 21, all deer were parasitized with 20 mating pairs of feeding capsule-enclosed I. scapularis and A. americanum. Post-attachment, engorgement and mortality of ticks were recorded. The concentrations of fipronil in plasma, feces and tissues from euthanized deer were estimated using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results The fipronil deer feed efficaciously controlled ticks parasitizing pen-reared white-tailed deer. Efficacy in reducing survivorship of blood-feeding female I. scapularis exceeded 90% in all instances except for when ticks parasitized 48-h treated deer at day 21 post-exposure (47.2%). Efficacy in reducing survivorship of A. americanum females exceeded 80% in all instances. In the 120-h exposure group there was 100% tick mortality at day 7 post-exposure for both tick species. A significant correlation was observed between reductions in tick survivorship and concentrations of fipronil sulfone in plasma. The results of tissue analysis suggest that a withdrawal period may be needed to allow for fipronil degradation prior to hunting season. Conclusions The results provide proof-of-concept for the use of a fipronil-based oral acaricide in controlling two medically important tick species infesting a key reproductive host. A field trial is necessary to confirm the efficacy and toxicology of the product in wild deer populations. Fipronil deer feed may provide a means of controlling multiple tick species parasitizing wild ruminants to be integrated into tick management programs. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:08:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c9dd632937dd4daebb7173ee4e3a03e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:08:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-c9dd632937dd4daebb7173ee4e3a03e62023-03-22T10:33:36ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052023-03-0116112010.1186/s13071-023-05689-1Development of a low-dose fipronil deer feed: evaluation of efficacy against two medically important tick species parasitizing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) under pen conditionsDavid M. Poché0Donald Wagner1Kylie Green2Zachary Smith3Noah Hawthorne4Batchimeg Tseveenjav5Richard M. Poché6Genesis Laboratories, Inc.Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State UniversityGenesis Laboratories, Inc.Pennsylvania State UniversityGenesis Laboratories, Inc.Genesis Laboratories, Inc.Abstract 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. scapularis parasitizing the pathogen reservoir, Peromyscus leucopus. No prior studies have evaluated the efficacy of a fipronil product in controlling ticks parasitizing white-tailed deer. Methods A pen study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a fipronil deer feed in controlling I. scapularis and A. americanum adult ticks. Individually housed deer (n = 24) were exposed to deer feed containing 0.0025% fipronil (fipronil deer feed) for 48 h and 120 h, and a control group of deer were exposed to an untreated placebo. On post-exposure day 7 and day 21, all deer were parasitized with 20 mating pairs of feeding capsule-enclosed I. scapularis and A. americanum. Post-attachment, engorgement and mortality of ticks were recorded. The concentrations of fipronil in plasma, feces and tissues from euthanized deer were estimated using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results The fipronil deer feed efficaciously controlled ticks parasitizing pen-reared white-tailed deer. Efficacy in reducing survivorship of blood-feeding female I. scapularis exceeded 90% in all instances except for when ticks parasitized 48-h treated deer at day 21 post-exposure (47.2%). Efficacy in reducing survivorship of A. americanum females exceeded 80% in all instances. In the 120-h exposure group there was 100% tick mortality at day 7 post-exposure for both tick species. A significant correlation was observed between reductions in tick survivorship and concentrations of fipronil sulfone in plasma. The results of tissue analysis suggest that a withdrawal period may be needed to allow for fipronil degradation prior to hunting season. Conclusions The results provide proof-of-concept for the use of a fipronil-based oral acaricide in controlling two medically important tick species infesting a key reproductive host. A field trial is necessary to confirm the efficacy and toxicology of the product in wild deer populations. Fipronil deer feed may provide a means of controlling multiple tick species parasitizing wild ruminants to be integrated into tick management programs. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05689-1Blacklegged ticksIxodes scapularisLone star ticksAmblyomma americanumWhite-tailed deerOdocoileus virginianus |
| spellingShingle | David M. Poché Donald Wagner Kylie Green Zachary Smith Noah Hawthorne Batchimeg Tseveenjav Richard M. Poché 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 Parasites & Vectors Blacklegged ticks Ixodes scapularis Lone star ticks Amblyomma americanum White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus |
| title | 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 |
| title_full | 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 |
| title_fullStr | 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 |
| title_full_unstemmed | 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 |
| title_short | 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 |
| title_sort | 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 |
| topic | Blacklegged ticks Ixodes scapularis Lone star ticks Amblyomma americanum White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05689-1 |
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