BRIGHTON FARAI MADZIMA

ANIMAL HEALTH- RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (ACARICIDES)

2023
 WHAT ARE THEY ?
• Acaricides / Dips are pesticides that are used on farm animals in order to kill ticks, lice,
mange mites, tsetse flies and other nuisance flies.
APPLICATION METHODS
1. DIPPING / SPRAYING

-Plunge dips are more effective than spraying (spray race or hand spray) because it wets a high percentage surface area of the
animals hide, specifically inside the ears and under the tail whilst spraying enables gentler handling of sensitive animals. E.g.
Dairy cows. Spraying also has the advantage that the dip (Acaricide) used may be changed at will and strategic applications for
species control.

Factors that determine effectiveness of dipping:

• The correct dip must be used, some dips have weakness against certain ticks, while in other cases ticks may develop a
resistance.

• The manufacturers instructions must be followed precisely, (dilution rate, premixing techniques and precautions to be taken).

• All animals should be dipped on the very same day and to ensure this stockmen should count all the animals before dipping.

• Dip at the correct intervals: in most cases it is preferable to maintain weekly dipping. There are times, especially with brown-
ear tick problem, when 5 day dipping is necessary.
Hand-dressing
- This can be used in conjunction with the hand-spraying method. This is a laborious, but entirely
necessary procedure. It consists of treating the attachment sites of the two- and three-host ticks with
tick grease or oil, or with a high concentration of the dip wash. It protects the sites against re-
infestation for longer than the normal dip wash concentration and is thus valuable against fever
carrying ticks, such as the brown-ear ticks, which can transmit disease after a comparatively short
period of feeding. The treatment is carried out with a brush or swab, or with a knapsack sprayer, if
concentrated dip wash is to be used. The main sites to be treated are the inside of the ears, round the
scrotum or udder and under the tail.
Pour-on
This tick control consists of concentrated acaricide dissolved in a dispersible base and
relatively small amounts are applied to the upper part of the animal from which the
chemical spreads downwards and outwards to cover the whole body. Pour-on’s are more
costly than the most expensive dips, but some farmers will welcome them because they
avoid the trauma and stress of the spray race or dip tank. Some have the added advantage
that they are also effective against nuisance flies. They also carry the advantage of being
insoluble in water, which means can be more effective in summer.
Injectables
-These are injected either subcutaneously or intramuscularly and distributed around the
body thru the blood stream. When ticks suck blood they ingest the chemicals and are killed.
This method is not yet in widespread use by farmers except for the control and treatment of
mange mites. Examples of drugs that are used here include Ivermectin (Ivormec®) and
Doramectin (Dectomax®) and some Organophosphates.
TickTalk- Brighton F Madzima
HARD TICKS & SOFT TICKS
HARD TICKS
( IXODIDAE )- These all have a common distinguishing trait of having a hard scutum also
commonly referred to as a backplate.

SOFT TICKS
( AGARSIDAE )- These ticks do not have a scutum however are characterized by a well
rounded shape.
IXODIDAE
ONE HOST TICK
- Both moults take place on the host animal, this ensures that the tick never leaves the host from time of attaching as a larva until it drops
off as an engorged female.
All Blueticks (Boophillus) have such a cycle.
TWO-HOST TICKS
- First moult takes place on the host and the second moult on the ground, so that the adult ticks attach to a second host after emergence.
The Red-legged tick (Rhipicephalus evertsi) and the Bont-legged ticks (Hyalomma) species of Asia and Africa
have a two-host life cycle.
THREE-HOST TICKS
- Both moults take place on the ground, so that nymph ticks get to find a second host and then the adult ticks a third host when they emerge
from their moults.
Brown ear tick of Africa (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ) and Bont ticks ( Ambylomma ) have such a lifecyclye.
Blue Tick (Rhipicephalus decoloratus)
- This is a one host tick that is found around the body.
DISEASES TRANSMITTED
1. Redwater (babesiosis)
2. Gall sickness (Anaplasmosis)
TREATMENTS
1. Imochem, plus Vitamins
2. Imochem Limoxin LA or Fivox LA plus vitamins; Vitol 140/450 or Introvit-B
complex
Brown Ear Tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus)
- This is a 3 host tick, found in ears, at the base of the tail and in the tail brush.
Young ones are found on the legs.
DISEASES TRANSMITTED
1. January disease (Theileriosis)
TREATMENTS
1. Butachem, Limoxin LA or Fivox plus Vitamins; Vitol 140/450 or Introvit B
complex
Bont Tick (Amblyomma variegatum)
This is a 3 host tick. It is found on bare skin under the tail and along the underline
of the body. They also favour teats and the udder.
DISEASES TRASMITTED
1. Heartwater
TREATMENTS
1. Limoxin LA or Fivox plus vitamins ; Vitol 140/450 or Introvit B complex.
Red Legged Tick (Rhipicephalus evertsi)
This is a 2 host tick. Nymphs favour in the ears. Adults usually found under the
tail or any other spots of bare skin.
DISEASES TRANSMITTED
1. Redwater (Babesiosis)
TREATMENTS
1. Imochem plus Vitamins ; Vitol 140/450 or Introvit-B complex.
Chemical Groups of Dips
• Amidines
• Synthetic Pyrethroids
• Organophosphates
Drastic-Deadline
Flumethrin 1%
- An oil based acaricide, easy to apply with non-systemic action ectoparasiticide for instant
use on cattle, sheep, ostriches and game animals.
PARASITES, VECTORS & ORGANISMS CONTROLLED
1. Ticks
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
- It is toxic to bees and fish.
APPLICATION RATE
Cattle Application:
For pour on administration.
Dose rates/directions for use:
Apply the required dose volume along the backline. May also be applied as spot treatment at reduced dosage rate at specific
problem areas.
Drastic Deadline is suitable for application to game of the following species: Buffalo, Eland, Tsessebe, Impala, Wildebeest, Zebra-
through the Duncan Applicator. For treatment of Rhinoceros apply along the backline with dosing gun, squeeze bottle with
dosimeters or with a measuring cup at the same rate as the cattle.
- 200 kg body mass = 20 ml
- 300 kg body mass = 30 ml
- 400 kg body mass = 40 ml
- 500 kg body mass = 50 ml
Sheep & Goats Application:
For pour on administration.
-Dose rates/directions for use:
Apply the required dose volume in 4 parts to the bare skin areas of the groin and axillae. In the case of sheep
infested with Karoo Paralysis Tick Drastic Deadline has to be applied early in the season, when these ticks are
first observed (either on the grazing, or on the animals). Two to three treatments at a 7 to 10 day intervals at this
time should suffice to protect sheep against Karoo paralysis, depending on the severity of the tick challenge.
Poultry Application:
For pour on administration.
-Dose rates/directions for use:
Ostrich: Apply required dose along backline at a rate of 1ml/10 kg live mass.
Multi-Dip
Cymiazole – 175g/l
Cypermethrin- 25g/l
A combination of an amidine and pyrethroid that controls external parasites on cattle.
PARASITES, VECTORS & ORGANISMS CONTROLLED
1. Ticks
2. Lice
3. Screw worm
4. Biting/Nuisance flies
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
-Toxic to fish.
-Do not use on horses.
-Do not mix with other products.
TakTic