title: Observations on successive infestations of the rabbit host by the ticks Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and R. zambeziensis (Acari: Ixodidae).
abstract: Successive infestation of the rabbit host by instars of the brown ear tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus resulted in a progressive decline in engorgement and egg weights of adult instars and a reduction in percentage recovery of nymphs and larvae. Repetitive infestation with adults and larvae resulted in increased skin hypersensitivity reactions at the attachment site. Successive infestation with R. zambeziensis caused a more significant decline in engorgement and egg weights of adults than for R. appendiculatus. Percentage recoveries of larvae and nymphs were also significantly reduced. A cross-infestation study indicated that R. appendiculatus and R. zambeziensis share antigenic moieties.
authors: Tick Research Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
authors: B H
authors: BH
authors: Fivaz
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Norval
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009758:Nymph / Q000254:growth & development; D011817:Rabbits / Q000469:parasitology*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*