Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T08:32:29.788Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The biology of supermoulted female tick Ornithodoros porcinus porcinus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Christine K. A. Mango ,
Thomas R. Odhiambo ,
Frederick Obenchain  and
Rachel Galun
Christine K. A. Mango
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
Thomas R. Odhiambo
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
Frederick Obenchain
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
Rachel Galun
Affiliation:
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
Get access

Abstract

Female ticks of Ornithodoros porcinus porcinus undergo a series of adult moults when fed on blood containing ecdysteroids. The supermoulted ticks are bigger, ingest larger blood meals and lay more eggs than normal females. However, their rate of conversion of blood into eggs and their oxygen uptake are reduced in comparison to normal ticks. Their ability to resorb the rehydrated salt crystals is impaired. They are unable to shed the cuticle of the Géne's organ area leaving the organ constantly protruding, thus making the ticks vulnerable to dehydration. These factors are probably responsible for the very high mortality and the failure of most of the ticks to moult at the third supermoulting cycle.

Résumé

Les tiques femelles Ornithodoros porcinus porcinus, subissant une série de mues à l'état adulte quand elles sont nourrieś à du sang contenant des ecdystéroides. Les tiques qui subissent plusieurs mues sont plus grosses, consomment plus de sang et pondent plus d'oeufs que les femelles normales. Cependant, leur taux de conversion du sang en oeufs et leur consommation d'oxygène est plus réduite comparée à ceux des tiques normales. Leur capacité de résorption des crystaux de sels réhydrates est réduite. Elles sont incapables de perdre la cuticule de la surface de l'organe de Gène, laissant l'organe saillant et exposant ainsi les tiques à la dehydration. Ces facteurs sont probablement r©sponsables de la mortalité élevée et du fait que les tiques sont incapables de ser muer au troisième cycle de super mue.

Keywords

Ornithodoros porcinus porcinusecdysteroidssupermoulted ticksOrnithodoros porcinus porcinusecdysteroidestiques subissant la super mue
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , April 1986 , pp. 123 - 128
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Campbell, J. D. and Oliver, J. H. Jr (1982) Membrane feeding and developmental effects of ingested B-ecdysone on Ornithodoros parkeri. In Proceedings of the VI International Congress on Acarology, Vol. 1, pp. 393–399. Halsted Press, New York.Google Scholar
Cox, B. L. (1960) Hormonal involvement in the moulting process in the soft tick Ornithodoros turicata. Dissertation Abstract.Google Scholar
Ewen, A. B. (1962) An improved aldehyde fuchsin staining technique for neurosecretory products in insects. Am. Microscop. Soc. Trans. 81, 94—96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hayes, D. K., Schechter, M. S., Mensing, E. and Horton, J. (1968) oxygen uptake of single insects determined with a polarographic oxygen electrode. Analyt. Biochem. 26, 51–60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hubschman, J. H. (1962) A simplified azan process well suited for crustacean tissue. Stain Technol. 37, 379–380.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Humason, G. L. (1962) Animal Tissue Techniques, p. 468. Freeman, San Francisco.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaestner, A. (1968) Invertebrate Zoology, pp. 131–203. Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
Kitaoka, S. (1972) Effects of ecdysone on ticks, especially on Ornithodoros moubata. In Abstract of the 14th Congress on Entomology, p. 272. Canberra.Google Scholar
Mango, C. K. A. (1979) The effect of B-ecdysone and ponasterone A and the soft tick Ornithodoros porcinus porcinus. Ph.D. thesis, University of Nairobi.Google Scholar
Mango, C. K. A. and Galun, R. (1977) Ornithodoros moubata: Breeding in vitro. Expl Parasit. 42, 282–308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mango, C., Odhiambo, T. R. and Galun, R. (1976) Ecdysone and the super tick. Nature, Land. 260, 318–319.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rudolph, D. and Knulle, W. (1978) Uptake of water vapour from the air: process, site and mechanism in ticks. In Comparative Physiology-Water, Ions and Fluid Mechanics (Edited by Schmidt-Nielsen, K., Bolis, L. and Maddrell, S. H. P.). Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Savory, T. H. (1964) Arachnida, pp. 47–48. Academic Press, London.Google Scholar
Walton, G. A. (1979) A taxonomic review of Ornithodoros moubata (Murray) (Sensu Walton 1962) species group in Africa. Rec. Adv. Acarol. 2, 491–500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wigglesworth, V. B. (1940) Control of breakdown of prothoracic gland in Rhodnius. J. exp. Biol. 163, 390–391.Google Scholar