Role of saliva in tick/host interactions.
Although several hosts mount efficient anti-tick immunity, natural tick/host associations are characterized by inefficient or non-existent anti-tick immunity. The absence of efficient anti-tick immunity in natural hosts could result from either host immune incompetence or the ectoparasite's successful evasion of the host's immune response. In this review I discuss data supporting the immune-evasion hypothesis and discuss its consequences to tick/host interactions.
Ribeiro
J M
JM
Department of Tropical Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115.
D000818:Animals; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000276:immunology*; D013987:Ticks / Q000276:immunology*