Allow northern arizona university (NAU) and the united states department of agriculture (USDA) to continue to work together to minimize the presence of cattle fever ticks (CFT) which are capable of…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded Northern Arizona University a $275,000 cooperative agreement on July 1, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to conduct genetic testing of cattle fever ticks and develop acaricide resistance protocols in support of cattle fever tick eradication efforts.

NAU will perform genetic testing to determine cattle fever tick sources of infestation and assess the effectiveness of treatments, including evaluation of acaricide resistance levels. The testing protocols will help determine whether infestations have been eradicated or if tick populations persist, with deliverables intended to prevent spread of cattle fever ticks outside quarantined areas in Cameron, Starr, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, and Zapata counties in Texas. NAU will also conduct acaricide testing to support treatment optimization in areas of known resistance.

Work is performed at NAU's Flagstaff, Arizona facility. The period of performance runs July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The award carries no sub-recipients or subawards. Intended beneficiaries include local landowners, communities, hunters, and the beef industry. The cooperative agreement supports the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program mission; failure to fund this research could result in cryptic infestations that allow spread of cattle fever ticks and associated bovine babesiosis throughout the country, causing significant economic loss and animal health impacts in beef and dairy industries.

Allow northern arizona university (NAU) and the united states department of agriculture (USDA) to continue to work together to minimize the presence of cattle fever ticks (CFT) which are capable of carrying babesia on premises that are located outside the permanent quarantine zone. Counties with infested premises under quarantine include cameron, starr, VAL verde, webb, willacy and zapata. In response, NAU, through collaboration with USDA, has established genetic testing protocols to help with CFT source determination and acaricide resistance levels. Genetic testing of CFT's to determine source of infestation and effectiveness of treatments (genetics tell US if CFT's have been eradicated or if the population was allowed to persist). The expected deliverables are that all these activities will help prevent the spread of cattle fever ticks outside of the quarantined areas. Again, we use genetics to determine sources of infestation and effectiveness of treatments. We also use genetics to look for emerging acaricide resistance; acaricide testing helps US better utilize treatments in areas of known resistance. Northern arizona university is a valued partner of cftep and the research and testing they do helps US better understand and therefore eradicate cattle fever ticks. Without proper funding, NAU would not be able to perform the necessary research that is critical to our mission of cattle fever tick eradication. Failure could lead to cryptic infestations that may remain undetected on source herds, allowing the spread of cattle fever ticks (and associated bovine babesiosis) throughout the country which could cause significant economic loss in the beef and dairy industry. Illness, reduced weight gain, decreased milk production and death can result. Intended beneficiaries include the local landowners, communities, hunters and the beef industry as a whole. No subrecipients or subawards.