Volume: 57 Issue: 3
Year: 2026, Page: 400-407, Doi: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2026.57.3.400-407
Received: March 13, 2026 Accepted: May 12, 2026 Published: Sept. 30, 2026
Ticks are among the most important ectoparasites affecting cattle health and productivity in tropical regions, with chemical acaricides being the primary control strategy. However, indiscriminate and prolonged use of acaricides has resulted in the emergence of resistant tick populations. The present study was undertaken to assess the acaricide susceptibility status of Haemaphysalis bispinosa infesting cattle in central Kerala using the Larval packet test (LPT). Fully engorged female ticks were collected from cattle maintained in the Malayoram and Midland agro-climatic zones, reared under controlled laboratory conditions and larval bioassays were conducted on deltamethrin, amitraz, and fipronil following FAO guidelines. In the Malayoram zone, Haemaphysalis larvae showed resistance to deltamethrin, with an LC₅₀ of 232.59 ppm and LC₉₀ of 1007.6 ppm, and survival exceeding 10 per cent at the discriminating dose of 75 ppm. In contrast, the Midland zone population was highly susceptible to deltamethrin, with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 4.61 ppm and 24.97 ppm, respectively. Amitraz was effective against tick populations from both zones, with mortality exceeding 90 per cent at higher concentrations; LC₅₀ values were 16.15 ppm in the Malayoram zone and 5.35 ppm in the Midland zone. Fipronil exhibited resistance in the Malayoram zone, where mortality at the discriminating dose of 9.6 ppm remained below 90 per cent, while complete susceptibility was observed in the Midland zone. The study reveals zone-specific variation in acaricide resistance among H. bispinosa populations in central Kerala and highlights the need for regular resistance monitoring and adoption of region-specific, sustainable tick control strategies
Keywords: Larval packet test, deltamethrin, amitraz, fipronil
Anand, A., Lakshmanan, B., Kajal, T. A., Joseph, S., Aravindakshan, T. V., & Jose, J. (2021). Deltamethrin resistance in Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus tick population in Kerala. Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 52(1), 19-25. DOI: https://doi. org/10.51966/jvas.2021.52.1.19-25
Balasubramanian, R., Yadav, P. D., Sahina, S., & Arathy Nadh, V. (2019). Distribution and prevalence of ticks on livestock population in endemic area of Kyasanur forest disease in Western Ghats of Kerala, South India. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 43(2), 256-262. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-019-01086-7
Bhagat, P., Upadhyay, S. R., Godara, R., Sharma, S., Nazim, K., Yadav, A., & Katoch, R. (2026). Emergence of fipronil resistance in Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) field populations from Northwestern Himalayas, India. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 1-6. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.1007/s42690-026-01786-7
de Castro, J. J. (1997). Sustainable tick and tickborne disease control in livestock improvement in developing countries. Veterinary parasitology, 71(2-3), 77-97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304 4017(97)00033-2
FAO. 2004. Resistance Management and Integrated Parasite Control in Ruminants: Guidelines. Animal Production and Health Division, FAO, Rome. pp. 25-77.
Fular, A., Gupta, S., Sharma, A. K., Kumar, S., Upadhaya, D., Shakya, M., ... & Ghosh, S. (2020). Standardization of tick specific biochemical tools for estimation of esterases, monooxygenases and glutathione S-transferase for characterization of acaricide resistance. Pesticide biochemistry and physiology, 164, 130-139. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. pestbp.2020.01.008
Ghosh, S., & Nagar, G. (2014). Problem of ticks and tick borne diseases in India with special emphasis on progress in tick control research: a review. Journal of vector borne diseases, 51(4), 259-270.
Guerrero, F. D., Lovis, L., & Martins, J. R. (2012). Acaricide resistance mechanisms in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, 21(1), 1-6. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612012000100002
Gupta, S., Gupta, S., & Kumar, S. (2021). Emergence of fipronil resistance in cattle ticks Rhipicephalus microplus and Hyalomma anatolicum collected from Haryana, India. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 41(1), 401-407. DOI: https://doi. org/10.1007/s42690-020-00218-4
Gupta, S., Sangwan, N., Sangwan, A. K., Gupta, S., Kumar, A., Maan, S., ... & Kumar, S. (2024). Acaricide resistance status of deltamethrin and coumaphos in Hyalomma anatolicum ticks collected from different districts of Haryana. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 92(4), 809-833. DOI: https://doi. org/10.1007/s10493-023-00894-0
Haque, M., Jyoti, Singh, N. K., & Rath, S. S. (2014). Effect of various acaricides on hatchability of eggs of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. BioMed Research International, 2014(1), 425423. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/425423
Jyothimol, G., Ravindran, R., Juliet, S., Ajithkumar, K. G., Suresh, N. N., Vimalkumar, M. B., ... & Ghosh, S. (2014). Low level deltamethrin resistance in ticks from cattle of Kerala, a south Indian state. Veterinary Parasitology, 204(3-4), 433-438. DOI: https://doi. org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.04.028
Jyoti, Singh, N. K., Singh, H., & Rath, S. S. (2019). Modified larval packet test based detection of amitraz resistance in Hyalomma anatolicum Koch (Acari: Ixodidae) from Punjab districts of India. International Journal of Acarology, 45(6-7), 391-394. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2019.1667432
Kajal, T.A., Lakshmanan, B., Rajagopal, A., Sunanda, C., Pooja, M., & Devada, K. (2019). Assessment of deltamethrin resistance in Haemaphysalis spp. on goats in Kerala by larval packet test. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 7(4), 1316 1319.
Kumar, S., Sharma, A. K., Kumar, B., Shakya, M., Patel, J. A., Kumar, B., ... & Ghosh, S. (2021). Characterization of deltamethrin, cypermethrin, coumaphos and ivermectin resistance in populations of Rhipicephalus microplus in India and efficacy of an antitick natural formulation prepared from Ageratum conyzoides. Ticks and tick-borne diseases, 12(6), 101818. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101818
Kumar, S., Sharma, A. K., Nagar, G., & Ghosh, S. (2015). Determination and establishment of discriminating concentrations of malathion, coumaphos, fenvalerate and fipronil for monitoring acaricide resistance in ticks infesting animals. Ticks and tick borne diseases, 6(3), 383-387. DOI: https://doi. org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.03.003
Kumar, S., Sharma, A. K., Ray, D. D., & Ghosh, S. (2014). Determination of discriminating dose and evaluation of amitraz resistance status in different field isolates of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in India. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 63(3), 413 422. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-014 9789-8
Lenka, D. R., Ravindran, R., Jyothimol, G., Udaykumar, M., Reddy, P. M. T., Sathish, N., ... & Ghosh, S. (2016). Deltamethrin resistance in south Indian isolates of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, 5, 37-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. vprsr.2016.09.002
Lovis, L., Guerrero, F. D., Miller, R. J., Bodine, D. M., Betschart, B., & Sager, H. (2012). Distribution patterns of three sodium channel mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus populations from North and South America, South Africa and Australia. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 2, 216-224. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2012.08.001
Lovis, L., Perret, J. L., Bouvier, J., Fellay, J. M., Kaminsky, R., Betschart, B., & Sager, H. (2011). A new in vitro test to evaluate the resistance level against acaricides of the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Veterinary parasitology, 182(2-4), 269-280. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. vetpar.2011.06.004
Martínez-Ibañez, F., Cruz-Vázquez, C., Vitela-Mendoza, I., Lagunes-Quintanilla, R., & Medina-Esparza, L. (2026). Detection of coumaphos, fipronil, flumethrin and amitraz susceptibility in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sl (Acari: Ixodidae) from Mexico. Veterinary Research Communications, 50(1), 54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-025-10986-4
Morgan, J. A., Corley, S. W., Jackson, L. A., Lew-Tabor, A. E., Moolhuijzen, P. M., & Jonsson, N. N. (2009). Identification of a mutation in the para-sodium channel gene of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus associated with resistance to synthetic pyrethroid acaricides. International journal for parasitology, 39(7), 775-779. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.12.006
Patel, D.C., Solanki, J.B., & Kumar, N. (2020). In Vitro Detection of Acaricidal Resistance Status of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus against Commercial Preparation of Delta methrin in Coastal Areas of South Gujarat, India. Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology, 16(1), 32 36. DOI:10.21887/ijvsbt.16.1.7
Rani, S.R., D’Souza, P., Byregowda, S.M., Veeregowda, B.M., Sengupta, P.P., Chandranaik, B.M., & Thimmareddy, P.M. (2018). In vitro acaricidal efficacy of deltamethrin, cypermethrin and amitraz against sheep ticks in Karnataka. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 6(3), 758-762
Sen, S.K. and Fletcher, T.B. 1962. Veterinary Entomology and Acarology for India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 668p. Shaik, N. R., Lakshmanan, B., Nair, N. S., Anand, A., Radhika, R., & Syamala, K. (2024). Novel polymorphisms in the octopamine receptor gene of amitraz resistant population of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, in south India. Experimental Parasitology, 261, 108763. DOI: https://doi. org/10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108763
Shakya, M., Kumar, S., Fular, A., Upadhaya, D., Sharma, A. K., Bisht, N., & Ghosh, S. (2020). Emergence of fipronil resistant Rhipicephalus microplus populations in Indian states. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 80(4), 591-602. DOI: https://doi. org/10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108763
Sharma, A. K., Kumar, R., Kumar, S., Nagar, G., Singh, N. K., Rawat, S. S., & Ghosh, S. (2012). Deltamethrin and cypermethrin resistance status of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus collected from six agro-climatic regions of India. Veterinary Parasitology, 188(3-4), 337-345. DOI: https://doi. org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.03.050
Shyma, K. P., Gupta, J. P., Singh, V., & Patel, K. K. (2015). In vitro detection of acaricidal resistance status of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus against commercial preparation of deltamethrin, flumethrin, and fipronil from North Gujarat, India. Journal of parasitology research, 2015(1), 506586. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/506586
Shyma, K. P., Kumar, S., Sangwan, A. K., Sharma, A. K., Nagar, G., Ray, D. D., & Ghosh, S. (2013). Acaricide resistance status of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Hyalomma anatolicum collected from Haryana. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 83(6), 591-594.
Shyma, K. P., Kumar, S., Sharma, A. K., Ray, D. D., & Ghosh, S. (2012). Acaricide resistance status in Indian isolates of Hyalomma anatolicum. Experimental and applied acarology, 58(4), 471-481. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.1007/s10493-012-9592-3
Singh, N. K., Gelot, I. S., Jyoti, Bhat, S. A., Singh, H., & Singh, V. (2015). Detection of acaricidal resistance in Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum from Banaskantha district, Gujarat. Journal of parasitic diseases, 39(3), 563-566. DOI: https://doi. org/10.1007/s12639-013-0397-z
Stone, B. F., & Haydock, K. P. (1962). A method for measuring the acaricide-susceptibility of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Can.). Bulletin of entomological research, 53(3), 563-578. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S000748530004832X
Vilela, V. L. R., Feitosa, T. F., Bezerra, R. A., Klafke, G. M., & Riet-Correa, F. (2020). Multiple acaricide-resistant Rhipicephalus microplus in the semi-arid region of Paraíba State, Brazil. Ticks and tick-borne diseases, 11(4), 101413. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. ttbdis.2020.101413
Walker, A.R., Bouattour, A., Camicas, J.L, Estrada-Pena, A., Horak, L.G., & Preston, R.G. (2014). Ticks of Domestic Animals in Africa: A Guide to Identification of Species. Bioscience Reports, UK, 221p.
© 2026 Rajeshwari et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Rajeshwari, Asha, R., Bindu, L., Priya, M.N., Arun, G., Surya, S., Reji R.O.P. & Jisni, E.S.(2026). Acaricide resistance status of Haemaphysalis spp. infesting cattle in central Kerala using the larval packet test. Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 57(3), 400-407