Ticks and the vast array of pathogens they transmit, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths, constitute a growing burden for human and animal health worldwide. In Cuba, the major tropical island in the Caribbean, ticks are an important cause of vector-borne diseases affecting livestock production, pet animal health and, to a lesser extent, human health. The higher number of tick species in the country belong to the Argasidae family and, probably less known, is the presence of an autochthonous tick species in the island, Ixodes capromydis. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) affecting animal and human health in Cuba. The review covers research results including ecophysiology of ticks, the epidemiology of TBPs, and the diagnostic tools used currently in the country for the surveillance of TBPs. We also introduce the programs implemented in the country for tick control and the biotechnology research applied to the development of anti-tick vaccines.

The cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus causes substantial economic losses worldwide and has developed resistance to several synthetic acaricides. Therefore, the search for sustainable alternatives for tick control has intensified. Plant-derived compounds and entomopathogenic fungi, such as Beauveria bassiana, represent promising candidates for integrated control strategies. This study evaluated the in vitro effects of Schinus lentiscifolius extracts of different polarities, used alone or in combination with B. bassiana, against different developmental stages of R. microplus. The activity of the plant extracts, fungal conidia, and their combinations was assessed using adult immersion, larval packet, and larval immersion assays. The combined treatments increased larval mortality compared with the extracts used alone in both larval assays. In the larval packet and larval immersion assays, the crude ethanolic extract of S. lentiscifolius combined with B. bassiana achieved 100% mortality at 20 mg/mL. However, the effects observed against engorged females were limited. These findings indicate that the combination of S. lentiscifolius extracts and B. bassiana has promising in vitro larvicidal activity against R. microplus. Further studies are needed to characterize the interaction between the agents and to evaluate their efficacy and safety under in vivo and field conditions.