| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to test the susceptibility of A. hebraeum and D. reticulatus to fipronil.
Both the Larval Packet Test and Larval Immersion Test were carried out, for comparison and to determine which test has the best sensitivity. For A. hebraeum a LC50 of 2,15 ∙ 10-2 mg/mL for fipronil was found. In future studies this LC50 can be used as a baseline. No reliable results were obtained for D. reticulatus because larvae were too old. Therefore, no conclusion can be drawn regarding this tick species, the second hypothesis remains unproven. This study proves that larval age is important and that the test should be performed when the larvae are 14 to 28 days old. When comparing more tick species at once and larvae of these species are all the same age, it is important that these tests are carried out in parallel for reliable results. If not, larvae of one tick species may be too old of age and results will be unreliable.
In the future, more research needs to be done. Not only to determine baseline data for other tick species, as well as to detect changes in susceptibility to acaricides at an early stage. Now that the Larval Packet Test is standardized and more reliable, a more accurate LC50 can be determined.
No conclusion can be drawn regarding difference in sensitivity of the Larval Immersion Test and Larval Packet Test. This hypothesis remains unproven. It is in the future, however, recommended to perform the Larval Packet Test rather than the Larval Immersion Test. The Larval Packet Test is significantly easier to perform and less time consuming and it takes less working space and less materials. The Larval Packet Test also has a higher chance of succeeding. Furthermore, the Larval Immersion Test is not recommended or standardized by the FAO, as opposed to the Larval Packet Test [15]. | |
