Abstract:
This study assessed the efficiency of a new in vitro tick feeding system for the adult
Rhipicephalus appendiculatus tick and compared the impact of different blood anticoagulating factors
on their feeding process. A total of 10 feeders were each seeded with 30 or 60 R. appendiculatus
adults. Bovine blood was added into each unit and changed every 12 h for 4 to 10 days during which
tick attachment and engorgement was assessed. The tick attachment observed 4 days after feeding
was 80.0% (48/60), 75.8% (182/240), and 70.8% (170/240) for lithium heparin, citrate phosphate
dextrose, and defibrinated blood, respectively, with no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the
anticoagulants used. However, the ticks fed on heparinized and defibrinated blood reached repletion
status. The in vitro tick feeding system was successfully used to feed adult R. appendiculatus ticks
until repletion. This system could be used to facilitate studies on tick-pathogen interactions, such as
those involved in the East Coast fever disease.
