Abstract
The long feeding duration of ixodid ticks and need for regular blood changes turns the artificial feeding of ticks into a tedious process. To reduce the number of blood changes, a semi-automated system (SAS) for the artificial feeding of hard ticks was developed and evaluated. It consisted of a glass feeding reservoir that can accommodate six tick feeding chambers. A peristaltic pump was used to pump blood through the feeding reservoir, which was changed once daily. Groups of Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus adults were fed simultaneously in both the SAS and a conventional in vitro feeding system. In the conventional system, feeding chambers were hung inside a glass beaker filled with blood that was replaced twice daily. Dermacentor reticulatus adults fed in the SAS obtained significantly higher engorgement weights. Although engorgement rates between both systems were comparable, significantly more SAS-fed females laid fertile egg batches. The egg batch weight of SAS-fed females was also significantly higher. In contrast, the engorgement rate and fecundity of SAS-fed I. ricinus were significantly reduced in comparison to ticks fed in the conventional system. This reduction was likely to be caused by fungal infestation, which could spread between feeding chambers in the SAS. Although the SAS reduced the workload compared to the conventional feeding system and showed promising results for the in vitro feeding of D. reticulatus adults, measures to prevent fungal infestations in the SAS should be considered in future studies.
Highlights
Ticks are obligate haematophagous ectoparasites that infest both humans and animals and may act as vectors of pathogens
Dermacentor reticulatus can be found in many parts of Europe, and its distribution in many regions has expanded during the last decades (Rubel et al 2016)
Its veterinary relevance lies in its role as a vector for Babesia canis and Theileria equi, causing babesiosis in dogs and horses, respectively, but it has been associated with the transmission of human pathogens such as Rickettsia slovaca and Rickettsia raoultii, causing tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA), and a flavivirus causing Omsk haemorrhagic fever (Jongejan and Uilenberg 2004)
Summary
Ticks are obligate haematophagous ectoparasites that infest both humans and animals and may act as vectors of pathogens. I. ricinus is the most widespread tick in Central and Western Europe It has a broad host range and can transmit a wide variety of pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato causing Lyme borreliosis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum causing human granulocytic anaplasmosis, Babesia microti, Babesia venatorum and Babesia divergens causing babesiosis in humans and animals and tick-borne encephalitis virus (Jongejan and Uilenberg 2004). One of the experiments performed using this system resulted in engorgement weights and fertility rates that were not significantly different from Amblyomma hebraeum adults fed in vivo on cattle, the number of ticks that could be fed was limited and the approach was not pursued further Another interesting artificial feeding approach was published for colony maintenance of the human head louse, Pediculus capitis. By performing the tick feedings simultaneously in both SAS and this conventional system, we were able to compare the feeding success and fertility of the ticks between both systems
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