Abstract
Ticks are obligate haematophagous ectoparasites that can
transmit a wide variety of pathogens being considered the
principal vectors of disease among animals. The piroplasms
Babesia bigemina and B. bovis are transmited mainly by
Rhipicephalus microplus and R. annulatus ticks. Acaricides are
still the most common method of tick control despite the
disadvantages presented by them. Anti-tick vaccines despite
promising are still inadequate mainly due to the lack of
effective antigens. Calreticulin has been identified as being
involved in B. bigemina infection in R. annulatus ticks in a prior
study. It is essential to characterize this antigen before using
it on a vaccination trial. A low cost alternative to test antigens
is the observation of the biological effects caused by the
inoculation of substances or antibodies against that antigen.
Tick artificial feeding, even though it doesn´t substitute
vaccination trials in cattle, it allows to achieve critical data
that for sure will optimize resources. Herein polyclonal
antibodies raised against calreticulin were supplemented to a
blood meal, offered in capillary tubes to partially engorged R.
microplus females and their effect in feeding process as well as
infection was analyzed.
transmit a wide variety of pathogens being considered the
principal vectors of disease among animals. The piroplasms
Babesia bigemina and B. bovis are transmited mainly by
Rhipicephalus microplus and R. annulatus ticks. Acaricides are
still the most common method of tick control despite the
disadvantages presented by them. Anti-tick vaccines despite
promising are still inadequate mainly due to the lack of
effective antigens. Calreticulin has been identified as being
involved in B. bigemina infection in R. annulatus ticks in a prior
study. It is essential to characterize this antigen before using
it on a vaccination trial. A low cost alternative to test antigens
is the observation of the biological effects caused by the
inoculation of substances or antibodies against that antigen.
Tick artificial feeding, even though it doesn´t substitute
vaccination trials in cattle, it allows to achieve critical data
that for sure will optimize resources. Herein polyclonal
antibodies raised against calreticulin were supplemented to a
blood meal, offered in capillary tubes to partially engorged R.
microplus females and their effect in feeding process as well as
infection was analyzed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Anais do Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical |
| Volume | 12 |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |
