Biological comparisons between a laboratory-maintained and a recently isolated field strain of Boophilus microplus.
Biological differences between two strains of Boophilus microplus were examined. The A-strain of ticks had been maintained at the laboratory for many years and the N-strain was recently isolated, being a composite strain derived from ticks from different sources in the field. In three experiments, up to three times as many N-strain ticks grew to maturity than did A-strain ticks, although A-strain ticks matured earlier. N-strain ticks were 17 to 60% heavier, and laid 50 to 100% more eggs than A-strain ticks. N-strain eggs were significantly more fertile than A-strain eggs. Unfed, N-strain larvae survived much longer than A-strain larvae. The reduced vitality of the A-strain is attributed to its long history in the laboratory during which time it has become biologically disadvantaged through inbreeding. These results suggest that some laboratory-maintained strains of ticks may be unsuitable for ecological or acaricide studies.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D012098:Reproduction; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D013987:Ticks / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*