DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMIC ACARACIDE BAIT(S) FOR CONTROLLING TICKS ON RODENTS

NEW METHODOLOGIES ARE BEING DEVELOPED FOR INTERRUPTING THE LYME DISEASE TRANSMISSION CYCLE, INCLUDING THE USE OF ACARICIDES IN REDUCING AN INFECTED TICK POPULATION, CONTROL OF PEROMYSCUS SPP. BY ENVIRONMENTAL MANIPULATION AND RODENTICIDAL TREATMENT, AND DEER POPULATION MANAGMENT. A SYSTEMIC, ORALLY ADMINISTERED ACARICIDE EFFECTIVE IN KILLING TICKS, (PARTICULARLY IMMATURE STAGES OF IXODES DAMMINI), FEEDING ON TREATED ANIMALS COULD BREAK THE TICK LIFE CYCLE. DEVELOPMENT OF RODENT BAITS CONTAINING THE ACARICIDE ARE INTEGRAL FOR SUCCESS OF THIS METHODOLOGY. A DELIVERY SYSTEM WILL BE DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE AN ACCEPTABLE AND ATTRACTIVE BAIT TO RODENTS WHICH WILL REDUCE THE ATTACHMENT RATE AND/OR KILL ATTACHED TICKS. THIS SYSTEM SHALL BE NON-TOXIC TO RODENTS. TESTS WILL BE CONDUCTED ON TWO POTENTIAL MATERIALS, MILBEMYCIN OXIME AND CGA 184699.