Acaricidal effect of major compounds to control Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) in dairy cows and possible alternatives for reversing multidrug resistance

Abstract Tick control represent a great challenge to animal health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of acaricidal compounds against Rhipicephalus microplus from dairy cattle systems in Paraná State, Brazil. Six farms (PR1-PR6) were selected, where anti-tick products were applied at fixed intervals. Two other farms that adopted alternative protocols; target selective treatment (PRS), and individual-based agroecological protocol (PRA) were also included in the trial. Fully engorged R. microplus were collected for the in vitro adult immersion test (AIT), and the egg hatch test (EHT) in all eight populations. The larval packet test (LPT) was used on PR6 and PRA tick populations. The treatment groups were composed of G1: dichlorvos 45% plus cypermethrin 5%, G2: deltamethrin 2.5%, G3: cypermethrin 15%, chlorpyriphos 25%, plus citronellal 1%, and G4: amitraz 12.5%. The efficacy at PR1 to PR6 revealed that G3 and G4 achieved moderate to high efficacy, from 75.0 to 100.0% and 73 to 98%, respectively. In the LPT, the efficacy at PR6 was 76.0, 67.0, 93.0 and 30.6%, while PRA presented 100.0, 100.0, 100.0, and 54.0%, for G1, G2, G3 and G4, respectively. Sustainable parasite control strategies are discussed.