Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplusis the most common tick species in India infesting cattle and buffaloes and causing significant economic losses to dairy and leather industries by adversely affecting the milk production and quality of hides. A study to evaluate the acaricide resistance status ofRhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplusto deltamethrin, flumethrin, and fipronil was conducted on the samples collected from organized and unorganized farms of North Gujarat state, where treatment failures were reported frequently. Adult Immersion Test (AIT) and Larval Packet Test (LPT) were conducted using field strain for determination of 50 and 95% lethal concentration of deltamethrin, flumethrin, and fipronil. Results obtained by the Adult Immersion Test showed low grade resistance (level I, RF > 5) has been developed against both deltamethrin and fipronil. However, deltamethrin by performing Larval Packet Test showed moderate grade resistance (level II, RF > 25). Larval packet performed by flumethrin also revealed low grade resistance, level I. The data on field status of acaricide resistance from the area with diversified animal genetic resources will be helpful to adopt suitable strategy to overcome the process of development of resistance in ticks.

Huge livestock population of India is under threat by a large number of endemic infectious (bacterial, viral, and parasitic) diseases. These diseases are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, particularly in exotic and crossbred cattle. Beside morbidity and mortality, economic losses by these diseases occur through reduced fertility, production losses, etc. Some of the major infectious diseases which have great economic impact on Indian dairy industries are tuberculosis (TB), Johne's disease (JD), mastitis, tick and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs), foot and mouth disease, etc. The development of effective strategies for the assessment and control of infectious diseases requires a better understanding of pathogen biology, host immune response, and diseases pathogenesis as well as the identification of the associated biomarkers. Indigenous cattle (Bos indicus) are reported to be comparatively less affected than exotic and crossbred cattle. However, genetic basis of resistance in indigenous cattle is not well documented. The association studies of few of the genes associated with various diseases, namely, solute carrier family 11 member 1, Toll-like receptors 1, with TB; Caspase associated recruitment domain 15, SP110 with JD; CACNA2D1, CD14 with mastitis and interferon gamma, BoLA--DRB3.2 alleles with TTBDs, etc., are presented. Breeding for genetic resistance is one of the promising ways to control the infectious diseases. High host resistance is the most important method for controlling such diseases, but till today no breed is total immune. Therefore, work may be undertaken under the hypothesis that the different susceptibility to these diseases are exhibited by indigenous and crossbred cattle is due to breed-specific differences in the dealing of infected cells with other immune cells, which ultimately influence the immune response responded against infections. Achieving maximum resistance to these diseases is the ultimate goal, is technically possible to achieve, and is permanent. Progress could be enhanced through introgression of resistance genes to breeds with low resistance. The quest for knowledge of the genetic basis for infectious diseases in indigenous livestock is strongly warranted.

Comparative resistance status against synthetic pyrethroids (deltamethrin and cypermethrin) in two economically important ticks, Hyalomma anatolicum and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, of North Gujarat was tested using commercially available deltamethrin (1.25%) and cypermethrin (10%) by Larval Packet Test. Results revealed that low level of resistance has been developed in H. anatolicum tick isolates of Vasda, Shihori, and Palanpur against deltamethrin (level I; RF = 2.39–3.79) and that for cypermethrin Vasda, Vav, Soneth, Palanpur tick isolates were found to be resistant (level I; RF = 1.5–4.6). The R. (B.) microplus isolates from Vav revealed highest resistance level IV (RF = 43.8) and level I resistance (RF = 1.77–3.52) from Mahadevpura, Vasda, Rooppura, Bhadath against deltamethrin. Resistance level for cypermethrin in Ranpur isolate was I (RF = 1.62); however, in Mahadevpura and Vasda tick isolateit was up to level II (RF = 17.26 and 8.16, respectively). R. (B.) microplus tick isolates from Vasda and Mahadevpura were resistant against both deltamethrin and cypermethrin with resistance level I and II, respectively. Similarly, H. anatolicum tick isolates from Vasda were resistant to both deltamethrin and cypermethrin with level I resistance (RF = 3.79 for deltamethrin and 1.8 for cypermethrin).