Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer

Maxforce(R) Tick Management System
Lyme disease has become the most common vector-borne disease in the United States, with more than 21,000 cases reported annually. The existing methods for reducing the risk of Lyme disease include landscape management practices, use of pesticides, and personal protective measures such as repellants and choice of clothing. Published research has demonstrated that area-wide insecticides can reduce tick populations by more than 90%; however, epidemiological surveys have shown that only 23% of the population in Lyme endemic areas uses this method on their properties. Alternative methods to reduce the risk of Lyme disease are greatly needed.
Inventors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed and patented a bait box that lures rodents using a nontoxic food source. Once the rodent enters the device, it is passively treated with an insecticide that kills ticks and fleas. This technology, sold under the trademark name Maxforce® Tick Management System (TMS), reduces tick populations on treated properties by over 90%. When used in conjunction with other tick control methods as part of an integrated approach to tick control, the bait box reduces tick populations by more than 97%. This technology and product provide an alternative method of tick control that is extremely effective, yet environmentally friendly.
In order to transfer this technology to the private sector, the CDC obtained four patents on the bait box technology. This technology was then licensed to Bayer CropScience through an exclusive patent license agreement. Through this collaboration, the CDC was able to produce an important tool for public health and Bayer was able to add an important product to its product line.