Voigt W P, Young A S, Mwaura S N, Nyaga S G, Njihia G M, Mwakima F N, Morzaria S P
International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases, Nairobi, Kenya.
Parasitology. 1993 Sep;107 ( Pt 3):257-63. doi: 10.1017/s0031182000079233.
An in vitro feeding method using rabbit or cattle skin membranes, applied successfully to all stages (larvae, nymphae and adults) of the ioxodid tick, Amblyomma variegatum, is described. The feeding apparatus consisted of a blood container with a membrane placed on top of a tick containment unit. A carbon dioxide atmosphere of between 5 and 10% and a temperature of 37 degrees C were used as stimulants for the attachment of the ticks. High CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere improved the feeding success of all instars. The effect of anticoagulation methods for the bloodmeal was investigated, and heparinized blood was found to be the most suitable for tick feeding. When the bloodmeal was replaced by tissue culture medium for feeding nymphs the subsequent moulting success was reduced. Adult ticks of both sexes remained attached for up to 16 days, until completion of their bloodmeals. All stages of the tick fed on whole blood in the artificial feeding system and all reached engorged weights less than those achieved by control ticks fed on experimental animals. A large proportion of ticks, fed artificially on whole blood, moulted or laid eggs successfully. The method was successfully applied for the transmission of Theileria mutans and Cowdria ruminantium to cattle.
描述了一种使用兔皮或牛皮膜的体外喂养方法，该方法已成功应用于变异革蜱各阶段（幼虫、若虫和成虫）。喂养装置由一个血液容器和一个放置在蜱虫容纳单元顶部的膜组成。使用5%至10%的二氧化碳气氛和37摄氏度的温度作为蜱虫附着的刺激因素。大气中高浓度的二氧化碳提高了所有龄期蜱虫的喂养成功率。研究了血餐抗凝方法的效果，发现肝素化血液最适合蜱虫喂养。当用组织培养基替代血餐喂养若虫时，随后的蜕皮成功率降低。雌雄成虫均可附着长达16天，直至血餐完成。蜱虫各阶段在人工喂养系统中以全血为食，所有蜱虫饱食后的体重均低于以实验动物为食的对照蜱虫。很大一部分以全血人工喂养的蜱虫成功蜕皮或产卵。该方法已成功应用于将突变泰勒虫和反刍动物考德里氏体传播给牛。
