A tick tissue culture medium based on analyses of tick haemolymph

Abstract

Analyses of the amino acids, sugars, and cations in the haemolymph of the cattle ticks Boophilus microllus, Argas lagenoplastis, and Hyalomma dromedarii were made as a basis for designing a medium for the in vitro growth of tick cells. Of several media formulated, the most successful consisted of the amino acids, sugars, and cations at the same concentration as found in the tick haemolymph, plus members of the vitamin B complex, organic acids, 1 per cent Antheraea pernyi haemolymph, and 1 per cent bovine plasma. In this medium, cells from Rhipicephalus sanguineus have grown in vitro for 9 months.