Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an economically important ectoparasite of cattle. Chemical
acaricides remain the most practical method for control of these pests. During past two decades there have been increasing reports of resistance development against synthetic
pyrethroids in tick populations of this species throughout the world. A study was conducted to determine the level of susceptibility of R. (B.) microplus to
deltamethrin collected from different geographical locations of northern India. LPT bioassay results revealed LC(50) values of
deltamethrin ranging from 0.035 to 0.00037 % A.I.
Esterase profile of the tick larval extracts using native PAGE, revealed 5 bands of
esterase activity designated EST-5 to EST-1A. Inhibitory tests recognized EST-1, EST-2 and EST-3 as Acetylcholinesterases (
AchEs), EST-4 and EST-5 as
Carboxylesterases (CaEs). The band intensity varied between tick populations of various locations, being more intense in case of the resistant populations. An extra band of
esterase activity (EST-1A) was obtained in larval extracts of ticks from 3 locations. This increased
esterase activity may be involved in the resistance development in these tick populations.
Acaricide resistance is a multi-factorial phenomenon, thus other causes of increased resistance like
sodium channel mutation and reduced
drug penetration (e.g. cuticle thickening) and behavioural changes (e.g. avoiding the pesticides) are to be tested in future in order to confirm the basic cause of the resistance development in these
acaricide resistant tick populations.