Biomorphic Study of Rhipicephalus Sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

Rhipicephalus sanguineus can complete up to four generations per year, depending on factors such as climate and host availability. Biomorphic studies of R. sanguineus were conducted under laboratory conditions. The larval, nymphal and adult ticks were fed on sheep at 250C, 60 % relative humidity (RH) and exposed to daylight. The incubation period was lasted 35 days. The average mean of premoulting and moulting period of larvae was 70 ± 0.91 and 7.4 ± 0.6 days, respectively. The time durations of premoulting and moulting of nymphs were 62 ± 1.66 and 13 ± 6.4 days, respectively. The average developmental periods were 6.09, and 5.15 days for larval pre-feeding, and feeding, respectively. The average developmental periods were 3.54, and 6.11 days for nymphal pre-feeding, and feeding, respectively. The complete life cycle of R. sanguineus was 180 days with range of 120-286 days. The average weights of the unfed larvae, and nymphs were 0.04 ± 0.03, and 0.40 ± 0.09 mg, respectively while 0.60 ± 0.05, and 5.02 ± 0.20 mg for engorged larvae and nymphs, respectively. The index of reproduction efficiency (REI), egg production efficiency (EPE), and the index of reproductive fitness (RFI) averaged 14.99 ± 3.65, 0.31 ± 0.08, and 11.74 ± 3.01, respectively. Scutum length and width of male was 2.2 and 1.2mm, respectively while length and width of female was 1.04 and 0.99 mm, respectively. The current study findings could help the workers in adopting different management studies for ticks in the world.

Keywords

• keywords: ticks
• brown dog ticks
• sheep
• biomorphic
• laboratory conditions.