Ponteiras plásticas na alimentação artificial de fêmeas de Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) parcialmente ingurgitadas

Abstract

Artificial feeding of ticks can be used to study the relationship between vectors and pathogens, biological aspects, to test acaricides and to minimize the use of animals in scientific studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the initial weight, feeding period and temperature on weight gain and biological parameters of the non-parasitic phase of partially engorged females of 􀀂􀀃􀀄􀀅􀀄􀀆􀀇􀀅􀀃􀀈􀀉􀀊􀀋􀀁 􀀋􀀈􀀌􀀍􀀊􀀄􀀌􀀇􀀊􀀋 that were artificially fed using a new feeding device (plastic tips). Moreover, we also analyzed the weight gain of the females and the influence of the technique on biological aspects of non-parasitic phase of this species, as well as the influence of different temperatures 27°C and 37°C.The experiment was conducted in three stages: first, the ticks were divided into four groups with different weights and were subjected to artificial feeding for 36 hours. Subsequently, ticks with the same weight range as the ticks with the best results in the first stage were separated into four groups of homogeneous weight and were subjected to different feeding periods: 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours. In the third stage, the females were fed at two temperatures for the best length of time found in the second stage. The best weight gains were obtained with partially engorged females weighing between 36 and 80 mg, fed for 24 hours. Using the technique for the new device did not alter the females’ oviposition, or any other parameters evaluated. Furthermore, it was observed that feeding the groups at temperatures of 27 °C and 37 °C did not affect the weight gain and biology of 􀀂􀀀􀀁 􀀋􀀈􀀌􀀍􀀊􀀄􀀌􀀇􀀊􀀋 females. Although the females of 􀀂􀀀􀀁 􀀋􀀈􀀌􀀍􀀊􀀄􀀌􀀇􀀊􀀋􀀁 had not been submitted to complete engorgement, the technique of artificial feeding of females derived from rabbits, no deleterious effects on the biotic potencial in tick question. This new device has great potential for development of studies on bioagent transmission, since it provides higher intake of blood by ixodid ticks.