TICK CONTROL

Control measure against a parasite needs a good knowledge of this para site. In the world over 800 species of ticks have been described. They attack a large variety of hosts and have quite different behavior and way of life from one tick species to another. It is extremely difficu lt to control ticks and the diseases they transmit. Actually measures of control mainly rely upon acaricide treatment (dipping, spraying, sh ampooing, impregnated collar and cotton ball....). Genetic crossing of different cattle race increase natural resistance to ticks. Vaccines against Boophilus microplus is now available for cattle in Australia a nd Cuba and new developments are in progress against other tick specie s. In the future integrated specific actions, taking into account the characteristics of each implicated tick species, should yield better m easure of control against these ectoparasites.