Ticks and tick-borne diseases are an economical constraint in the development of the livestock sector, mainly in Africa, the Caribbean and South America. They cause production losses, illness or even death.

FAO has been and is involved in field projects and programmes related to tick and tick-borne disease issues. The multi-donor programme for Integrated Tick and Tick-borne Diseases Control in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (thrird phase: 1993-1997) was one the largest and involved 9 countries. The Caribbean Amblyomma Eradication Programme (CAP) is another big programme, that is still ongoing.

Photo by M.Moran:acaricide spraying in Uganda

Farmers have long been treating their cattle, sheep and goats with acaricides to protect them from ticks, but many ticks have become resistant to these chemical compounds. FAO envisages to act as a forum of experts and industry to explore alternatives in order to come to an Intergrated Parasite Management approach.

Through publications, like the manual, FAO attempts to inform and provide learning material about tick and tick-borne disease related matters.