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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
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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

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References

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