Effects of host-immunity on the life cycle of Hyalomma rufipes Koch, 1844 (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae).

Studies of the effects of host-immunity on the life cycle of Hyalomma rufipes were carried out by allowing the ticks to feed on New Zealand white rabbits under laboratory conditions. The immunity of the rabbit host significantly affected the life cycle of this tick, reducing the percentage recovery of engorged females, their engorged weights and the total number of eggs laid by these females. The viability of the eggs laid by them was also considerably reduced compared to the eggs laid by females fed on naive rabbit hosts. The effects of host immunity were also revealed in the tendency towards three-host development of this species, which otherwise behaved as a two-host tick when fed on non-immune rabbit hosts.