Methods currently used for the control of heartwater: their validity and proposals for future control strategies

Abstract

Major advances made in the last few years in the knowledge of heartwater have not yet resulted in significant improvement of its prevention and control. Acaricide resistance and the high cost of chemical vector control stimulate research on alternative methods of vector control, such as immunization against the tick and the use of pheromones. Recently developed in vitro methods for the culture of Cowdria ruminantium may make it possible to arrive at safe recombinant or molecular vaccines. Specific chemotherapy may be improved by new laboratory screening methods, and studies on the pathogenesis of heartwater could lead to better non-specific treatment as well. Studies on the heritability of natural resistance to heartwater should determine whether or not practical selection and transfer of resistance is feasible. More research is also needed on the immunology and diagnosis of the disease and the factors involved in the resistance of young animals.