Artificial Feeding of All Consecutive Life Stages of Ixodes ricinus

The hard tick is an obligate hematophagous arthropod and the main vector for several zoonotic diseases. The life cycle of this three-host tick species was completed for the first time in vitro by feeding all consecutive life stages using an artificial tick feeding system (ATFS) on heparinized bovine...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vaccines (Basel) 2021-04, Vol.9 (4), p.385
Main Authors: Militzer, Nina, Bartel, Alexander, Clausen, Peter-Henning, Hoffmann-Köhler, Peggy, Nijhof, Ard M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adenosine triphosphate
Adults
Arachnids
Arthropods
artificial tick feeding
ATP
Blood
Cell culture
Engorgement
Feeding
Feeds
Females
Gentamicin
Hair
in vitro tick feeding
Ixodes ricinus
Laboratory animals
Larvae
life cycle
Life cycles
Membranes
Pathogens
Supplements
Thiamine
Ticks
Vaccines
Veterinary medicine
vitamin B
Weight
Zoonoses
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The hard tick is an obligate hematophagous arthropod and the main vector for several zoonotic diseases. The life cycle of this three-host tick species was completed for the first time in vitro by feeding all consecutive life stages using an artificial tick feeding system (ATFS) on heparinized bovine blood supplemented with glucose, adenosine triphosphate, and gentamicin. Relevant physiological parameters were compared to ticks fed on cattle (in vivo). All in vitro feedings lasted significantly longer and the mean engorgement weight of F adults and F larvae and nymphs was significantly lower compared to ticks fed in vivo. The proportions of engorged ticks were significantly lower for in vitro fed adults and nymphs as well, but higher for in vitro fed larvae. F -females fed on blood supplemented with vitamin B had a higher detachment proportion and engorgement weight compared to F -females fed on blood without vitamin B, suggesting that vitamin B supplementation is essential in the artificial feeding of ticks previously exposed to gentamicin.
ISSN:2076-393X
2076-393X
DOI:10.3390/vaccines9040385