Active Program Continues in Texas 
As the territory in Mexico along the lower Rio Grande River is tick-infested, 
reinfestations in Texas, by ticks carried by Mexican animals illegally enter- 
ing the United States, occur regularly. The river, serving as the inter- 
national boundary, is not an effective barrier against such illegal movements 
(See Table 2). 
The systematic eradication area, under Federal and State quarantine, extends 
from Del Rio to the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 500 miles. This zone is 
constantly patrolled by ANH Division inspectors who, in cooperation with 
the Texas Animal Health Commission, work diligently to reduce the introduc- 
tion and prevent the dissemination of the ticks. The areas under quarantine 
include parts of Cameron, Hidalao, Kinney, Maverick, Starr, Val Verde, Webb, 
and Zapata Counties. 
Of the 56 tick-infested herds in the systematic area, 33 were found by appre- 
hension and inspection of stray livestock, 15 at dipping and/or inspection 
prior to movement, three through |4-day or other routine inspections, two as 
a result of minglina of livestock, and one each by pasture inspection, chute 
inspection, and pen inspection. 
Of the 56 infestations, 33 resulted from tick-infested livestock straying 
from Mexico. It was not possible to identify the source of 25 infestations. 
Of the 27 infested herds found in the final area, 23 were found on pasture 
inspection, two when apprehending tick-infested smuqqled horses, and one 
when infested native livestock moved to a clean premises; and one infesta- 
tion was found by ANH Division inspectors at a public stockyards. 
The source of 24 of the infestations in the final area was not determined, 
one was caused by movement of infested native livestock, and two resulted 
from infested smuggled horses. 
There were 793 lots of ticks submitted to the ANH Ectoparasite Reference 
Center for identification: three skin scrapinas and 14 lots of screwworm 
larvae were also submitted by the tick force. Of the ticks submitted, 
18 were B. microplus. 
Cattle offered for importation from Mexico are carefully inspected for ticks 
when presented for entry. They must be free of ticks and must be given a 
precautionary dipping before entering the United States. 
On February 6, 1971, an ANH inspector found B. microplus ticks at a Hidalgo 
County auction market. The infested cattle were from Cameron County. Epi- 
demiological investigations disclosed 22 infested nremises in Cameron County, 
one infested premises in Hidalgo County, and 29 exposed premises in Cameron, 
Hidalao, Starr, Webb, Bexar, Live Oak, and Willacy Counties. 
