title: Feeding patterns of immature stages of Hyalomma truncatum and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes on different hosts.
abstract: In this study we examine the feeding patterns of immature stages of Hyalomma truncatum and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes ticks on different hosts. Larvae of H. truncatum developed through a three-host pattern on two species of field mice, Rhabdomys pumilio and Lemniscomys rosalia. On guinea-pigs, both Hyalomma species followed a mixed two-host and three-host pattern, with the latter route being preferred, since more than 70% of the fully fed larvae dropped off from their hosts. H. truncatum was a two-host tick on rabbits. Larvae of H. marginatum rufipes did not prefer R. pumilio and L. rosalia as hosts. On guinea-pigs, H. marginatum rufipes immatures showed a mixed two-host and three-host pattern with a bias towards the three-host life cycle, since approximately 58% of the fully fed larvae dropped off. On rabbits, H. marginatum rufipes was exclusively a two-host tick. Mean engorgement weights and blood quantities ingested by H. truncatum nymphs that developed through a three-host pattern on mice were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than for those that developed through a two-host pattern on guinea-pigs and rabbits. For H. marginatum rufipes, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between engorgement weights of nymphs that developed through two-host and three-host patterns. However, there were significant differences (p < 0.0001) in blood quantities ingested by nymphs of this tick species following feeding on different hosts.
authors: Department of Biology, Medunsa, South Africa. smagano@mcd4330.medunsa.ac.za
authors: S R
authors: SR
authors: Magano
authors: D A
authors: DA
authors: Els
authors: S L
authors: SL
authors: Chown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D009758:Nymph / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology*; D013987:Ticks / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors