title: The effect of synthetic pyrethroids on the attachment and host-feeding behaviour in Dermacentor reticulatus females (Ixodida: Amblyommidae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The high competence of D. reticulatus in transmission of tick-borne pathogens prompts investigations of the effect of chemicals used as repellents and acaricides on the behaviour of the tick on the host. Therefore, this paper presents the effect of permethrin and deltamethrin on the attachment and feeding in this tick species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Attachment to rabbit skin of D. reticulatus females sprayed with pyrethroids and the effect of different doses thereof on feeding were assessed at a temperature of 20 ± 3 °C and 50% humidity. The dynamics of attachment of D. reticulatus females varied in a dose-dependent manner after the application of both pyrethroids. Within the first 0.5 h of the experiments, there was an over six-fold and over twelve-fold increase in the number of females attached to host skin after application of permethrin concentrations of 0.3906-0.7812 μg and 1.5625-3.1250 μg/1 specimen, respectively. In the case of deltamethrin, females treated with the dose of 0.0390 μg of the compound were able to attach to host skin only 4 hours after the infestation. The toxic activity of both pyrethroids increased the duration of the feeding period and decreased the body weight of engorged females and the feeding efficiency index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The accelerated attachment of D. reticulatus females caused by sublethal permethrin doses and delayed or inhibited attachment caused by deltamethrin suggest a necessity of careful selection of the type and dose of pyrethroids to protect hosts from tick attacks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University, Radziwiłłowska11 St.,, 20-080, Lublin, Poland. alicja.buczek@umlub.pl.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buczek
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University, Radziwiłłowska11 St.,, 20-080, Lublin, Poland. patrycja.lachowska-kotowska@umlub.pl.
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lachowska-Kotowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University, Radziwiłłowska11 St.,, 20-080, Lublin, Poland. katarzyna.bartosik@umlub.pl.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bartosik
mesh_terms: D056810:Acaricides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003870:Dermacentor / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology; D013983:Tick Control; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D056810:Acaricides; D011722:Pyrethrins