st likely to be introduced with the importation of infested cattle. Cattle tick was introduced to NewCaledonia with cattle imported from Australia in this way.Transport of ticks on dogs is considered a potential risk for introducing the tick to new areas, although egg production is muchreduced in this species and the risk is considered low.Control / vaccinesThere are four methods available for controlling ticks: 1. treatment with acaricides 2. pasture spelling 3. the use of resistant cattle 4. vaccinationTick control by acaracide dipping has been widely used in endemic areas. Acaracides used for this purpose include varioussynthetic pyrethroids, amitraz, and some organophosphates. Dipping may have to be done as frequently as every 4-6 weeks inheavily infested areas. Many producers in tick endemic area have changed to Bos indicus type cattle because of their greaterresistance to tick infection. An anti-tick vaccine is also commercially available in Australia. The vaccine antigen, based on a tick gut protein and producedby recombinant technology, stimulates production of specific antibodies in cattle which damage the gut of engorging ticks,resulting in a fertility reduction of up to 70% in adult ticks, reducing tick population build-up. This vaccine is of limited use, but can be used as part of an integrated program for the control of ticks.Each year 150 million dollars is lost to Australia's beef and dairy industries because of cattle tick infectingour cattle. Cattle ticks are ecto-parasites which live in the coat of the cattle and suck their blood. By doingthis, many diseases like tick fever can be transferred causing poor health, and the effects can be fatal.Tick fever is a malaria-like disease and is described by Peter Willadsen as having produced "one of thebiggest disasters in our agricultural history." It is not unusual for 1000 female ticks to be found on one cow ...
