No abstract

Progress in the Caribbean Amblyomma Program (CAP) is reviewed since its inception in 1995 when regional eradication activities for Amblyomma variegatum ticks were initiated using Bayticol pour-on. Technical achievements in the various islands were slow initially, and showed a wide diversity in attaining eradication targets. St. Kitts, considered as a model program. eliminated the tropical Bont tick (TBT) from most of the island in less than 3 years. However, the elimination of very low numbers of residual adult TBT that persisted in three 'hot-spots' took another 3 years. A similar problem was faced in St. Lucia, although the approach there was to cull the wild cattle in the last remaining hot-spot. Both islands were certified as 'Provisionally free from TBT' in November 2001. In 2002, Anguilla and Montserrat attained the same status, and Barbados and Dominica also qualify for certification. Certification is based on strict, three-monthly, surveillance criteria: essentially, two successive TBT-free surveillance rounds on a statistically acceptable sample of the livestock population. Within the responsibility of the CAP, three islands remain TBT-infested, Antigua, Nevis, and St. Martin/St. Maarten. Nevis is of concern because it has been operational since late 1995, and appears unable to resolve the problem of treating stray small ruminants. Current funding should be adequate to complete eradication on Nevis and in St. Martin/St. Maarten. The major outstanding challenge is Antigua. In comparison to other islands they have the largest number of livestock, and have much larger populations than originally reported: sheep and goats are 4-5-fold higher, and cattle are 1.35-fold higher. The cost for Bayticol is, therefore, almost double and an additional US dollars 1.5 million is required for that commodity alone.

onde pude aperfeiçoar-me profissionalmente ao longo destes anos. Ao senhor orientador, Prof. Dr. Linilson Rodrigues Padovese, pela oportunidade concedida e pelo apoio no desenvolvimento deste trabalho. À Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), pelo apoio financeiro que tornou viável a minha permanência nesta escola. À empresa FAG pelo material, equipamentos e pessoal técnico fornecido para a realização dos ensaios de torneamento duro. A minha mãe, Dona Vilma, e meu pai, Don Carlos, que me apoiaram e motivaram incondicionalmente nos momentos difíceis, pelo exemplo de coragem e amor que sempre me mostraram, e por compartilhar da minha felicidade nas minhas conquistas. A meus irmãos Wilber e Luis, pela confiança, companheirismo e força, mostrados em todo momento. A minha tia Matilde de Valdez, meus primos Eng. Edgardo e Gustavo Valdez, a meus tios Eng. Freddy Manrique e Lc. Ivie de Manrique, as minhas tias Gloria, Esperanza, e Betty Salazar e Lc. Carmen Manrique, a minhas primas Karina e Viviana Manrique, e a minhas amigas MSc. Mishene Pinheiro e Diana Oropeza P., pelo carinho, companheirismo e alento nos momentos mais difíceis de minha vida. A minha amiga Eng. Blanca Antequera, que, com seu carinho, conhecimentos e alegria, me motivou a finalizar este trabalho.