Use of macrocyclic lactones to control the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

Abstract

An overview of the macrocyclic lactones (ML), with recent results and their effect on the control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, is presented in this paper. This review describes in detail the chemistry, pharmacokinetics and dose presentation, security and time withdrawal and environmental safety of the groups belonging to ML: avermectins (ivermectin, doramectin, eprinomectin, abamectin) and milbemycin (moxidectin). There is also a discussion on their efficacy and the problem of resistance of R. (B.) microplus to ML. Finally, it is concluded that due to their high lipid solubility ML are widely distributed in tissues, being effective in the control of R. (B.) microplus in cattle. The efficacy of short-acting ivermectin, doramectin, eprinomectin, abamectin and moxidectin are similar (> 90% effective after four weeks post treatment, PT) to control adult stages of R. (B.) microplus, however, in long-acting LM are available the market and present efficiency of > 95% with persistence up to 70 days PT.