| The tick Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) (Acarina) is considered one of the most important ectoparasites of cattle in the tropical regions of the world. The most important mechanism of detoxification of ester derivative compounds in these arthropods is based on carboxylesterases. A method of acaricide resistance based on the biochemical detection of esterase activity was developed and tested with laboratory and wild tick strains extracts. Three esterases from adult female integument were purified using chromatography and gel filtration characterized using esterase inhibitors. A carboxylesterase, a non-specific esterase and a cholinesterase were found, all of them of 64.7 kilodaltons molecular weight (SDS PAGE). Field samples of B. microplus ticks were collected from two ranches located in the state of Campeche, Mexico. Comparative analysis, based on the larval packet reference test was conducted on the collected strains. Tick population dynamics and economic modeling of the tick management on each ranch was simulated by computer generated models. Assumptions tested included adequate tick control, moderate tick control and no tick control. The significant effect of cattle breed, method of acaricide treatment and enterprise production goal played significant role in the profitability of the production system analyzed. |
