Specificity and effects of host resistance on the African tick Rhipicephalus zambeziensis (Acarina: Ixodidae).
Repeated infestations of the rabbit with adult Rhipicephalus zambeziensis ticks resulted in a ten-fold reduction in engorgement weight of adult ticks and a significant decline in engorgement weight of nymphs. There was no evidence of cross-resistance against the South African bont tick, Amblyomma hebraeum. Immunization of rabbits with crude extracts of whole-tick protein significantly influenced engorgement weights and oviposition rates of adult R. zambeziensis. Histological studies of tissues from R. zambeziensis adults fed on resistant rabbits showed severe gut damage; this was associated with the binding of host IgG to mid-gut cells.
Fivaz
B H
BH
Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
Rencken
I
I
Cross
R
R
Terry
S
S
Hendry
D
D
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005629:Frozen Sections; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009758:Nymph / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits / Q000469:parasitology*; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure