Genesis of antibiotic resistance IV: limited control measures in eradication of vector borne and zoonotic diseases in southwestern border regions of United States and Mexico (986.4)

The USDA‐APHIS sponsored US Fever Tick Eradication Program essentially employs tick riders to look for animals that are infested with ticks and employ quarantine. Methods to control infected animals as an effective tick control strategy; the tick infested animal is subjected to “Dirty Dipping” for a 14 day interval followed by “Clean Dipping”. With appropriate medical evaluations the tick free animal is released to the “Owner” on to its normal environment. The main concern with these methods is that pre‐existing bacterial pathogens in tick infested animals, such as Borrelia burgdorferi, ( Lyme borreliosis) Francisella tularensis, Bartonella spp., Rickettsioses, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Become resistant to treatments. If these pathogens have acquired antibacterial resistance, subsequent infections in animals or humans via vector borne contamination or by Zoonosis will be more difficult to cure. Through the efforts of the Vector Control Department of The City Administration and County agents sponsored by the Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University, in College Station, the incidence of such bacterial infections are monitored and reported immediately to the City, County, State and Federal authorities; however the existing chemical means to eradicate these bacterial pathogens has become inept. Developing new pesticides specifically aimed at controlling disease vectors, without bioaccumulation and no effect on non‐target organisms with a high virulence and low susceptibility to resistance, would be beneficial in controlling the AR pathogen induced infectious diseases. Grant Funding Source : Professional Development Funds ‐ SWTJC, Eagle Pass, Texas