This proposal arises from the need to contribute to the adoption of policies and protocols in farmers to improve cattle production and its sustainability in Ecuador, with a focus on tick-related issues. Since 2012, the South Coordinator has been leading research on cattle ticks to evaluate their importance as parasites and disease vectors with Dr. Madder and Prof. Vanwambeke. In 2014, Dr. Rodriguez applied for a Postdoc National fellowship at Central University of Ecuador in collaboration with Prof. Vanwambeke to analyse resistance to chemical acaricides and assess the genetic basis of Amitraz resistance in tropical areas of Ecuador. In 2016, an ARES project allowed CIZ and Dr. Rodríguez to collaborate further with Prof. Vanwambeke to evaluate the spatial structure of cattle tick burdens and the role of ecological and management factors on tick infestations and acaricide resistance. This generated several interesting leads about the spatial distribution of acaricide resistance that have direct use in the management and control of ticks. These results were presented in the International Congress on Tropical Veterinary Medicine in Argentina in 2018 and a publication is being prepared.

LA FIRMA DEL CONVENIO SE REALIZO ANTE LA PRESENCIA DE LAS AUTORIDADES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD, EL SR. PROCURADOR Y LOS COORDINADORES NORTE Y SUR DEL PROYECTO