A knowledge, attitudes and control practices (KAP)-based study on ticks and tick-borne diseases (TTBD) and resistance development in ticks was conducted in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh covering 200 livestock owners using a questionnaire. Based on our scoring criteria, results indicated only 25% (19.16–31.60) respondents possessing basic knowledge of TTBDs while 75% (68.40–80.84) respondents were not aware of TBDs. Due to lack of proper awareness of TTBDs, about 1.28 times more respondents (OR 95% CI 0.42–3.86) were having heavy tick infestations in their animals. However, about 36.5% (29.82–43.58) respondents showed a favourable attitude towards the adoption of different tick control practices; consequently, their animals showed low-level infestation. Amongst various feeding systems for animals, a mixed type of feeding system was mostly adopted by 57.5% respondents followed by manger system (37.5%) while grazing was the least adopted method (5%). Results indicated that the grazing animals were 6 times (OR 95% CI 2.93–12.28) more susceptible to ticks and possessed heavy tick infestation. Resistance status of collected tick isolates of Rhipicephalus microplus and Hyalomma anatolicum was assessed and revealed that both tick species were found resistant to deltamethrin. The goals of this study were to assess some of the underlying causes of ticks and TBD in livestock in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh state using the KAP survey and resistance characterization of ticks.

Risk-benefit considerations have stimulated efforts to develop technology to overcome the limitations of procedures that place excessive reliance on the use of acaricides for the control of ticks affecting cattle. One of the alternatives to acaricides is the selection and use of breeds of cattle with a natural propensity for developing acquired resistance to ticks. The literature on aspects of the modes of expression and mechanisms of resistance of cattle to ticks, is reviewed along with information on the successful efforts in Australia to develop productive Bos indicus ï Bos taurus breeds with the ability to develop high levels of resistance. The use of cattle resistant to ticks is discussed in relation to other factors that should be considered in the design of a programme for tick control.

A test with 100 nymphs of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum for evaluation of resistance of cattle to ticks was found to have a good potential for assessing the resistance status of cattle. Thus, 7% of nymphs engorged and moulted on a resistant host with average engorgement weight of 7.6 mg compared to 19 and 45% of engorged nymphs on two susceptible hosts with 15.8 and 13.6 mg average engorgement weights. Similarly, the number of detached fully engorged Rhipicephalus evertsi nymphs dropped from the resistant cows ranged between 14 and 57 compared with 118–124 from the two susceptible animals. The correlations between the three parameters; ranking cattle for resistance (natural tick burdens), the number of detached fully engorged R. evertsi nymphs, and the percentage survival of H. a. anatolicum nymphs after artificial infestation are discussed and found to be significant (r = +0.778; r = +0.886; r = +0.936). It is, therefore possible to assess the overall resistance status of hosts and cull the susceptible, if necessary.