Effect of different biological means on the control of ticks in cattle

Juan Manuel Pérez León

ABSTRACT
In order to evaluate the effect of different biological means on the viability of ticks in cattle, this study was conducted in experimental areas of the EEPF “Indio Hatuey”, designed in two trials: I Evaluation of different biological means on the stages of the life cycle of ticks at laboratory level and II. Determination of the effects of biological means on the prevalence of ticks in grazing cows. In the first stage 3 biological means: Bacillus turhingiensis, Verticillium lecanii and Beauveria bassiana were evaluated using a completely randomized experimental design, with five replications for each means. Of each biological means its effect on the different stages of the tick cycle (eggs, larvae and adults) was evaluated. In addition, a control treatment was used, based on the application of distilled water. From the biological means, two continued in the second stage and the analyses were made through the statistical pack SPSS 10.0. The highest mortality percentages in adults at laboratory level corresponded to the application of de biological means B. bassiana and V. lecanii, with values that exceeded 90% after 21 days of application, which differed significantly (p<0,05) from B.turhingiensis. The application of the biological means had a significant effect on laying percentage (p<0,05), the weight of eggs per laying (p<0,01), as well as on the hatching and viability of the larvae (p<0,05), always with the best results for the application of Beauveria. When evaluating the field stage, the selected means maintained a similar trend, but Beauveria bassiana showed the best results in the decrease of the parasite rate for ticks in the grazing animals, with bathing frequencies every 15 days. A positive effect of fungi on the tick offspring was observed, with a significant decrease, in the number of layings, although the non hatchings were similar for both means. To expand the studies at laboratory and field level is recommended.