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Host Susceptibility to Infestation with Amblyomma Hebraeum

  • Natural Resistance to Ticks
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International Journal of Tropical Insect Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Amblyomma hebraeum differs from many ixodid tick species in that it is not susceptible to the direct effects of the host immune response. All stages of the life cycle are able to feed repeatedly on laboratory hosts and show no progressive declines in engorged weight. However, on cattle there are declines in the yield of engorged adult females over time, as animals become sensitized to the tick and grooming increases. In the field zebu, Bos indicus and sanga, B. indicus × B. taurus breeds of cattle become less heavily infested than B. taurus breeds. The apparent resistance of zebu and sanga breeds is the result of learned tick avoidance behaviour, skin sensitivity and the ability to dislodge ticks prior to attachment as well as grooming ability. Among other Amblyomma spp., the feeding of A. americanum is adversely affected by acquired host immunity, while that of A. variegatum is generally unaffected.

Résumé

A mblyomma hebraeum diffère de beaucoup d’espèces de tiques ixodides en ce sens qu’elle n’est pas susceptible aux effets directs de la réponse immune de l’hôte. Toutes les étapes du cycle de vie peuvent se nourrir à plusieurs reprises d’hôtes laboratoires et ne montrent pas de baisses progressives de poid quand elles sont pleines. Cependant, sur les boeufs il y a au cours du temps des déclins de rendement de femelles adultes pleines, comme les animaux se sensibilisent à la tique et le pansement s’augmente. Aux champs, les races de boeufs zebu, Bos indicus et les sanga, B. indicus × B. taurus deviennent moins infestés que les races B. taurus. La résistance apparente des races zebu et sanga est le résultat d’un comportement appris de l’évasion de tiques, de la sensibilité de la peau et de la capacité de détacher les tiques avant qu’elles ne s’attachent, de même que de l’habilité de se panser. Entre d’autres espèces d’Amblyomma, l’immunité acquise sur le part de l’hôte produit un effet défavorable sur le parasitisme d’A. americanum, tandis qu’en général elle ne produit aucun effet sur celui d’A. variegatum.

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Norval, R.A.I. Host Susceptibility to Infestation with Amblyomma Hebraeum. Int J Trop Insect Sci 13, 489–494 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400016064

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400016064

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