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Studies of the Role of Amblyomma variegatum in the Transmission of Dermatophilus congolensis

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Tick Vector Biology

Summary

The role of Amblyomma variegatum in the transmission of Dermatophilus congolensis was investigated by feeding immature and adult stages of the tick on the skin of goats infected with a culture of a rifampicin resistant strain of D. congolensis (R2 strain). Subsequent isolations of the pathogen on selective media showed that 36 and 43% of males carried D. congolensis for at least 30 days. There was no evidence that larvae and nymphae carried D. congolensis. Transstadial transmission did not occur, indicating that A. variegatum has little role if any in the transmission of the pathogen.

The possibility of transmission by direct contact or by insects was proved by demonstrating the development of antibodies to D. congolensis in the sera of 65% of naive seronegative goats maintained under tick free conditions and either allowed to mix with other carrier goats or kept isolated in individual cages. The existence of asymptomatic carriers was confirmed by the observation that none of these goats developed lesions in spite of producing high levels of specific antibodies.

Severe dermatophilosis was reproduced by feeding of adult A. variegatum on asymptomatic carrier goats, while scarification of the same group of goats with D. congolensis resulted in a mild manifestation of the disease. The possible reasons for these observations are discussed in the light of the role played by adult A. variegatum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut ďElvage et de Médécine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, BP 1232, 97148, Pointe a Pitre Cedex, Guadeloupe, French West Indies, France

    T. Vidalenc

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  1. D. Martinez
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  2. N. Barre
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  3. B. Mari
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  4. T. Vidalenc
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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Martinez, D., Barre, N., Mari, B., Vidalenc, T. (1992). Studies of the Role of Amblyomma variegatum in the Transmission of Dermatophilus congolensis . In: Tick Vector Biology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76643-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76643-5_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-76645-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-76643-5

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