Hyalomma anatolicum resistance against ivermectin and fipronil is associated with indiscriminate use of acaricides in southwestern Balochistan, Pakistan.
Abstract: Ivermectin and fipronil have been used regularly to control the hard tick Hyalomma anatolicum (Acari: Ixodidae) in domestic ruminants for more than a half-decade in Balochistan, Pakistan. Inappropriate and indiscriminate use of these acaricides has resulted in the development of resistances in tick species. In this work, acaricides (ivermectin and fipronil) resistance was evaluated in H. anatolicum through in vitro and in vivo bioassays in a horse farm of Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan. A participatory epidemiological survey was conducted to assess potential risk factors associated with the development of acaricide resistance in H. anatolicum. The results of the epidemiological survey revealed that the horse keepers did not follow the manufacturer's instructions for the use of acaricides and applied indiscriminate doses of acaricides. The results of in vitro bioassays (adult immersion test and larval immersion test) showed that fipronil and ivermectin have protective efficacy against H. anatolicum. The results of in vivo bioassay (adult-tick mortality assay) revealed that fipronil had a higher efficacy (78.16%) than ivermectin (49.94%). More than 80% of tick mortality was not achieved in any bioassays, even for the highest acaricide concentration (100 ppm), which suggests the development of acaricide resistance against fipronil and ivermectin. This study highlights the urgency to implement a country-wide awareness about resistance monitoring and effective tick control. Graphical abstract.
Publication Date: 2020-11-22 PubMed ID: 33225403PubMed Central: 3875883DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06981-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates the development of resistance in the hard tick species, Hyalomma anatolicum, to commonly used acaricides, ivermectin and fipronil, in Balochistan, Pakistan due to indiscriminate and inappropriate use. The study confirms the resistance and calls for country-wide awareness and effective control.
Objective and Methodology
- The study aimed to assess the degree of resistance developed by the tick species, Hyalomma anatolicum, against ivermectin and fipronil in Balochistan, Pakistan. The abnormal use of these acaricides over the years has led to this resistance.
- The resistance was evaluated through in vitro (inside a test tube, culture dish, or elsewhere outside a living organism) and in vivo (within the living) bioassays in a local horse farm in the Balochistan province.
- Alongside, an epidemiological survey was conducted to identify the risk factors contributing to the resistance.
Findings from the Epidemiological Survey and Bioassays
- The epidemiological survey results indicated that the resistance could have resulted from horse keepers not following the manufacturers’ instructions while applying the acaricides. They used arbitrary amounts, leading to harmful consequences.
- The in vitro tests, including the adult and larval immersion tests, confirmed that fipronil and ivermectin provided protection against H. anatolicum.
- However, the in vivo test, the adult-tick mortality assay, demonstrated that fipronil had a better efficiency (78.16%) than ivermectin (49.94%).
- Surprisingly, even at the highest concentration of acaricide (100 ppm), none of the bioassays achieved more than 80% tick mortality, backing the theory of developed resistance against these acaricides.
Conclusion and Recommendations
- The study concluded that the unwarranted use of acaricides, ivermectin, and fipronil, had led to the tick species H. anatolicum developing resistance against them.
- Given the serious implications of this resistance, the researchers urged the need to raise awareness about resistance monitoring and efficacious control of ticks across the country.
Cite This Article
APA
Kamran K, Ali A, Villagra CA, Bazai ZA, Iqbal A, Sajid MS.
(2020).
Hyalomma anatolicum resistance against ivermectin and fipronil is associated with indiscriminate use of acaricides in southwestern Balochistan, Pakistan.
Parasitol Res, 120(1), 15-25.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06981-0 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. uop_ali@yahoo.com.
- Instituto de Entomología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile.
- Department of Botany, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
- Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
- Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security (CAS-AFS), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
MeSH Terms
- Acaricides / pharmacology
- Animals
- Drug Resistance / physiology
- Horses
- Inappropriate Prescribing
- Ivermectin / pharmacology
- Ixodidae / drug effects
- Larva / drug effects
- Pakistan
- Pyrazoles / pharmacology
- Tick Infestations / drug therapy
- Tick Infestations / veterinary
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