tick-artificial-membrane-feeding-for-ixodes-scapularis

Tick Artificial Membrane Feeding for <em>Ixodes scapularis</em>

Ticks and their associated diseases are an important topic of study due to their public health and veterinary burden. However, the feeding requirements of ...

University of Minnesota

 is the principal symbiotic bacterium of the medically significant tick  This species has been detected primarily in the ovaries of adult female ticks and is vertically transmitted, but its tissue tropism in other life stages and function with regard to tick physiology is unknown. In order to determine the function of , it may be necessary to produce ticks free from this symbiont. We quantified the growth dynamics of  naturally occurring in  ticks throughout their life cycle and compared it with bacterial growth in ticks in which symbiont numbers were experimentally reduced or eliminated. To eliminate the bacteria, we exposed ticks to antibiotics through injection and artificial membrane feeding. Both injection and membrane feeding of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin were effective at eliminating  from most offspring of exposed females. Because of its effectiveness and ease of use, we have determined that injection of ciprofloxacin into engorged female ticks is an efficient means of clearing  from the majority of progeny. This paper describes the growth of symbiotic  within  through the life cycle of the tick and provides methods to eliminate  from  ticks.

Benedict Khoo

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