Feeding Effects of Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ( Latreille , 1806 ) ( Acari : Ixodidae ) , on Protein Consumption and Blood Loss of Their Hosts

Abstract

Host blood loss by Rhipicephalus sanguineus feedings (weight/tick) ranged from 0.0179 to 0.2469 mg (0.21686 +/- 0.26785) and from 0.00103 to 0.00159 gm (0.001274 +/- 0.000204) respectively for each female and male if fed once. Results obtained herein indicated that if each sheep and or goat in production in Egypt is infested with only one pair of R. sanguines, the blood loss would reach 1084.3 kg and 867.4 kg, respectively for the population of sheep and goats. Accordingly, there was a great loss in plasma protein, about 186.5 kg and 149.2 kg respectively for the total population of sheep and goats in Egypt. The host response for tick feeding was not only by blood loss or plasma protein loss but also by protein pattern differentiation of host blood before and after tick feeding.