Regional project for the eradication of amblymma variegatum/heartwater: from the Caribbean

Abstract

In the Caribbean area, ticks are ectoparasites of greatest economic importance. They have a fairly complex life cycle from adult--egg--larva--nymph--adult. They have free living stages and parasitic stages when they feed on a variety of animal hosts and cause a tremendous amount of harm. They feed by sucking blood leanding to anaemia, depreseed growth, meat and milk production, even death of their hosts. Some ticks emit toxins in their saliva causing paralysis.