Effect of host age on the expression of acquired resistance to ticks.
Young guinea-pigs (350 g) expressed significantly greater levels of acquired resistance to challenge by larval Amblyomma americanum ticks than older guinea-pigs (520-800 g). This finding suggests that younger guinea-pigs are immunologically more responsive to tick infestation than older mature individuals. Therefore, host age is an important variable in evaluating acquired resistance to ticks.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000276:immunology*