Studies on ticks of veterinary importance in Nigeria XVII. Resistance of rabbits to infestation with Amblyomma variegatum and Boophilus decoloratus (Acari: Ixodidae).
Rabbits exposed to larvae, nymphs and adults of Amblyomma variegatum acquired resistance to the infestation with adults of this tick. The degree of acquired resistance was lowest in the rabbits exposed once previously to larvae and highest in those exposed twice previously to adults. Rabbits also acquired resistance after primary infestation with Boophilus decoloratus; their resistance became very high during the thrice-repeated feeding. New terms are introduced for the quantification of the degree of resistance of animals to tick infestation. Rabbits were protected against infestation with B. decoloratus by intravenous injection of serum from the rabbits on which the ticks had fed three times. The relevance of the results to integrated tick control strategies is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D009549:Nigeria; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology*; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*