VECTOR SITUATION OF TICK-BORNE DISEASES IN THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

The most important ticks transmitting diseases to ruminants in the Car ibbean islands are: Amblyomma variegatum, vector of cowdriosis and ass ociated with acute dermatophilosis; Amblyomma cajennense, potential ve ctor of cowdriosis; Boophilus microplus, vector of babesiosis and anap lasmosis. At the present time, Amblyomma variegatum is widespread in t he Lesser Antilles from Barbados to Puerto Pico. The intensity of the tick control program varies in the different islands and the tick infe station in each island ranges from limited foci to widespread infestat ions. The vector situation appeared stable since 1988 in the Lesser An tilles but the outbreak in 1992 in Puerto Rico emphasized the risk of spread to other islands and to the American mainland, particularly wit h cattle egrets. Cowdriosis remains apparently limited to Guadeloupe a nd Antigua. Amblyomma cajennense, experimental vector of cowdriosis, i s present in Cuba, Jamaica and Trinidad but also in most American coun tries. Boophilus microplus is widespread throughout the Caribbean. Its presence and importance are often indirectly estimated by the clinica l and serological diagnosis of babesiosis and anaplasmosis. There is n o correlation between the intensity of Amblyomma variegatum control in each island of the Lesser Antilles and the effect on the Boophilus mi croplus population measured by the seroprevalence to babesiosis and an aplasmosis, but within the island of Martinique a regular Amblyomma va riegatum control decreases the seroprevalences to babesiosis and anapl asmosis.