草原革蜱和森林革蜱幼虫的形态学研究

将采自不同地区的草原革蜱Dermucentor nuttalli Olenev和森林革蜱Dermaeentor silvarumOlenev成虫在实验室中培养,对所获幼虫的形态特征用生物统计方法进行分析。结果证明,革蜱幼虫的一些形态变异很大,同一种革蜱采自不同地区或不同雌虫所产的幼虫的个体变异甚至比种间变异还大。所以,前人根据个别地区少量材料所描述的上述幼虫形态特征及所做的检索表,不能广泛适用。作者分析了大量材料后,找出上述两种幼虫较稳定的鉴别特征。根据假头宽和盾板长可以区分草原革蜱和森林革蜱;按照肩毛(Sc)和第一对背中毛(Cd₁)的长度可以把上述两种幼虫与我国北部分布的其他三种革蜱(边缘革蜱、银盾革蜱和网纹革蜱)区别开来。     

革蜱成虫哈氏器的扫描电镜观察

本文报道了用扫描电镜观察革蜱属8种成虫的哈氏器.其中三种成虫(阿坝革蜱D. ahaensis、金泽革蜱D. auratus和中华革蜱D. sinicus)的哈氏器结构是首次报道,并与其他属6种成虫的哈氏器进行了比较,以阐明其形态特征及其在分类中的意义.另外,还将这14种成虫哈氏器与各自未成熟期的哈氏器进行了比较.分析和讨论了同种不同时期哈氏器结构的异同.东洋区的金泽革蜱和古北区的革蜱种类间,在孔毛形状,位置及基盘数目上有明显差别,而后者中,边缘革蜱D. marginatus的孔毛位于近端外侧,草原革蜱D. nuttalli和网纹革蜱D. reticulatus的孔毛位于远瑞外侧,其余种类无明显差别.     

新疆四种优势种革蜱超微结构观察

【目的】明确新疆优势种革蜱超微结构鉴别特征,以期准确鉴别媒介蜱。【方法】本研究以新疆疫区4种优势种革蜱——边缘革蜱D.marginatus、草原革蜱D.nuttalli、森林革蜱D.silvarum和银盾革蜱D.niveus为实验材料,在体视显微镜下观察并鉴定物种后,进行扫描电镜观察。【结果】银盾革蜱、森林革蜱、草原革蜱和边缘革蜱体躯大小、盾板珐琅彩存在差异;银盾革蜱和边缘革蜱的肢节Ⅳ(股节、胫节和后跗节)腹面都具有3个齿状突,而草原革蜱的3个齿状突位于胫节和后跗节,森林革蜱仅后跗节有3个齿状突。此外,这4种优势种革蜱须肢腹面内侧缘刚毛排列、爪垫长度与爪长度之间的比例等特征也存在明显差异。【结论】银盾革蜱、森林革蜱、草原革蜱及边缘革蜱以肢节Ⅳ腹面齿状突和气门板为鉴别特征,结合须肢腹面内侧缘刚毛排列、爪垫长度与爪长的比例等特征,可快速准确鉴别,对新疆地区蜱传疾病综合防控具有应用意义。     

辽宁省蜱类的生态地理分布

辽宁省已知的蜱类共13种, 分属于2科6属.本文依据不同地理景观区内蜱的种类与数量, 并结合其不同生境类型, 对蜱类的生态地理分布问题作了讨论.四个地理景观区内蜱种类与数量情况如下:(1)黄土丘陵台地干草原与西辽河风沙草原区:黄土丘陵台地干草原区蜱种类少, 但数量多.草原血蜱为优势种, 草原硬蜱数量较少.西辽河沙地草原区有草原血蜱、草原革蜱、草原硬蜱, 前两种均为优势种.(2)辽西山地疏林灌从区:本区有森林革蜱、长角血蜱、全沟硬蜱及日本锐缘蜱, 前两种为优势种.(3)辽东山地森林及林缘草地区:本区蜱种较多, 林区以日本血蜱、嗜群血蜱、全沟硬蜱为多见;林缘草地以长角血蜱、森林革蜱为优势种, 另外还有钝跗硬蜱、血红扇头蜱.(4)平原丘陵农区:木区蜱种虽然不少, 但分布局限, 数量小.有长角血蜱、草原血蜱、森林革蜱、微小牛蜱, 波斯锐缘蜱.     

革蜱未成熟期哈氏器的扫描电镜研究

用扫描电镜观察了革蜱属8种幼虫和若虫的哈氏器,并与其他属5种幼虫和4种若虫的哈氏器进行比较,以阐明其形态特征及其在分类中的意义。其中,9种幼虫和8种若虫哈氏器的结构是首次报道。革蜱属幼期哈氏器的囊孔形状、前窝感毛数目及其中孔毛的位置等与其他属不同。东洋区的金泽革蜱与古北区的革蜱种类之间,在孔毛形状、位置和幼虫近端缝孔的位置上有明显差别。而后者中,阿坝革蜱幼虫一般无近端缝孔;网纹革蜱幼虫和若虫的囊孔形状和幼虫的近端缝孔的位置与其他种类不同。但其余几种革蜱幼虫和若虫的哈氏器无显著差别。     

森林革蜱、草原革蜱感染和经期传播莱姆病螺旋体的实验研究

以实验室培育的非感染森林革蜱Dermacentor silvarum、草原革蜱D. nuttalli刺叮人工感染21天后的阳性KM鼠,利用分离培养和PCR方法检测蜱对螺旋体的保持能力以及体内螺旋体对敏感动物的感染能力。结果如下：非感染幼蜱均可以通过吸血获得莱姆病螺旋体,饱血森林革蜱和草原革蜱幼蜱PCR阳性率均为50.0%而分离阳性率都为20.0%。饱血脱落后,这些幼蜱只能在饱血后2天内分离到莱姆病螺旋体。PCR检测阳性也只能持续到4天,均不能跨越蜕皮阶段。蜕化为若蜱后,若蜱以及分别受到这些若蜱刺叮的KM鼠均未发现阳性感染。非感染若蜱吸食感染的KM鼠后,饱血森林革蜱和草原革蜱获得了莱姆病螺旋体,PCR检测阳性率分别为50.0%和20.0%。分离阳性率分别达到33.3%和60.0%。这些若蜱分别于饱血后2天和3天可以分离到莱姆病螺旋体,PCR扩增阳性也只能分别持续到饱血后4天和6天,均不能跨越蜕皮阶段;蜕化为成蜱后,成蜱以及受到它们攻击的KM鼠均未获阳性检测结果。同种蜱不同地理株在感染和保持莱姆病螺旋体的能力上也没有差异。森林革蜱、草原革蜱的幼蜱和若蜱虽可以吸血感染但均不具备经期传播莱姆病螺旋体Borrelia garinii CHNM4的能力,作为莱姆病媒介的可能性不大。     

蜱类须肢感器的细微结构

用扫描电镜观察了1种软蜱和4属8种硬蜱的成虫以及血蜱属3种若虫的须肢感器的外部形态;同时用透射电镜观察了波斯锐缘蜱、中华革蜱和亚洲璃眼蜱3种成虫须肢感器的内部结构.结果表明,须肢感器的外部形态在硬蜱各属成虫之间存在着一定的差异,主要表现在感器形状、顶端感毛数目、类型及形态,基部感毛数目及形态等几个方面.同属各种间差异不大.血蜱属幼期和波斯锐缘蜱幼期之间也有一定的差异,主要表现在感器形状、顶端感毛数目以及基部感毛数目、形态和排列方式.须肢顶端感毛的内部结构在三种蜱中都可分为A、B两种类型.A型具两个腔:其一为圆形腔,内有树突;另一为新月形腔,无树突.靠近感毛顶端有通道通向外界.B型感毛在三种蜱中差异较大,其共同点是只具有一个含有树突的腔.     

几种硬蜱精子的观察

<正> 解剖蜱类,观察其精子,对了解蜱类精子的形态特征和蜱的分类系统都有所借鉴。由于精子极易解体,不便观察,利用组织培养的方法,培养蜱的精于,其外形和大小清晰可见,还可以观察其运动形式和寿命。 一、材料和方法 三种硬蜱均系实验室饲养,有亚洲璃眼蜱Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticumSchluget et Schlottke、草原革婢Dermacentor     

硬蜱成虫的消化系统和生殖系统解剖

<正> 关于蜱类的内部解剖,国外有许多报道。近年来,我国正在开始这方面的工作,这将为蜱类组织学的研究奠定基础,从而对探讨蜱与疾病的关系,以及对蜱类杀灭机制的研究提供条件。 一、方 法 作者对全沟硬蜱、嗜群血蜱、森林革蜱、草原革蜱和长角血蜱进行了解剖,解剖方法有两种:即活体解剖和固定后解剖。活体解剖时,可先放少许50％酒精或生理盐水,解剖后用Carnoy’s液固定,会使某些器官看得更清楚。固定后解剖,标本多用Smith-Bouin固定。固定前,固定液需加热至45℃,固定液一经与固定标本接触,则不再继续加热。     

东北边境地区鼠体外寄生蜱螨的种类组成研究

采用笼日法捕鼠,收集鼠体外寄生蜱螨,研究我国东北边境地区鼠体外寄生蜱、革螨和恙螨的种类组成.结果表明,在东北边境6市县9种鼠体采获寄生蜱螨16 565只,计16属39种,其中蜱类3属4种,革螨8属20种,恙螨5属15种.优势种群:全沟硬蜱(75.6%);耶氏历螨(25.5%),厩真历螨(21.1%);波氏新恙螨(35.0%),高丽新恙螨(22.7%).不同鼠体寄生蜱、革螨、恙螨的主要种类组成有所不同.     

Morphofunctional changes in the midgut of the Ixodes females (Acari: Ixodidae) during the immunizing feedings

The changes of the midgut in the females of the tick species Ixodes persulcatus and I. ricinus during the second and third immunizing feeding on rabbits were studied by the histological technics. The alternation of one generation of the digestive cells of nymphal stage and two generations of the digestive cells of adult stage was observed. The generation of secretory cells is absent. The tick completes feeding and drop off when the last generation of the digestive cells is on the initial activity stages. The amount of the blood consumed is not enough for the rhythmical functioning of the midgut. The feeding of tick is broken on the second phase and full satiation does not take place. It is apparently an effect of the interruption of the blood entrance into the midgut cavity of feeding tick as a probable result of anti-ticks resistance of unnatural hosts.     

银盾革蜱的中肠上皮变化与血餐消化

用光学显微镜及电子显微镜对不同生理状况下银盾革蜱Dermacentor niveus Neumann雌虫中肠上皮及血餐消化进行了研究.饿蜱的中肠只由一种干细胞组成,脂滴作为饿蜱营养的贮藏形式.非滞育蜱消化分三个阶段,即第一连续消化阶段,减慢消化阶段及第二连续消化阶段.吸血后中肠上皮共观察到四种细胞类型,即替代细胞、分泌细胞、消化细胞及卵赞原细胞.滞育蜱第一连续消化阶段延长.饱血后60天到120天,消化作用几近停止,为停滞消化阶段.卵黄原细胞的超微结构有明显改变.滞育解除后,开始进行减慢消化阶段及第二连续消化阶段.     

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression and protein localization in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amblyomma americanum</Emphasis> (Ixodidae)

Amblyomma americanum (L.) ticks continue to emerge as disease vectors in many areas of the United States. Tick macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was first identified in A. americanum females and has been demonstrated to inhibit macrophage movement to the same extent as human MIF. This study was conducted to further characterize and elucidate the physiological role for MIF in tick feeding. A relative quantitative PCR assay was developed to determine the level of MIF gene expression during tick feeding. In addition, RNAi techniques were used to silence MIF prior to blood feeding. Physiological parameters of tick engorgement weight, length of feeding interval, and egg masses were observed to check for phenotypic manifestations of RNA silencing. Specific tick MIF antibody was used to localize MIF protein in frozen tick tissue sections. Tissue specific gene expression indicated that the midgut tissues were the most highly enriched for the MIF. Levels of gene expression did not parallel MIF protein pools seen in tissue sections. Of particular importance was the finding that unfed tick salivary glands appear to contain vesicles that are specific for MIF protein. This is the first demonstration of a pool of MIF that could be secreted during the first hours of tick feeding. While MIF silencing was demonstrated at the molecular level, no physiological phenotype was apparent. The MIF protein pools already available in the tissues may be sufficient to accomplish female tick feeding. Our studies show that the most prominent source of MIF during tick feeding is the midgut tissue. Future studies will address the role of MIF in blood feeding and nutrient digestion in the immature life stages of the tick.     

Active surveillance to update county scale distribution of four tick species of medical and veterinary importance in Oklahoma

The incidence of tick‐borne disease continues to increase in humans and companion animals in the United States, yet distribution maps for several tick vectors in Oklahoma, including Dermacentor variabilis, Dermacentor albipictus, Ixodes scapularis, and Amblyomma maculatum, are not available or are outdated. To address this issue, county‐scale tick records from peer‐reviewed literature and passive collections were reviewed for Oklahoma. Additionally, dry ice traps, tick drags, and harvested deer were utilized to actively collect adult ticks throughout the state. Through these methods, D. variabilis, D. albipictus, I. scapularis, and A. maculatum were identified in 88% (68/77), 45.4% (35/77), 66.2% (51/77), and 64.9% (50/77) of the counties in Oklahoma, respectively. Baseline maps were developed for the distribution of D. variabilis and D. albipictus and distribution maps were updated for I. scapularis and A. maculatum. This data confirms that these four species of ticks continue to be widespread within Oklahoma with a western expansion of the range of I. scapularis within the state. These results assist efforts to better understand the epidemiology of the different diseases caused by pathogens transmitted by these tick species within the Great Plains region.     

Major surface protein 1a effects tick infection and transmission of Anaplasma marginale.

Anaplasma marginale, an ehrlichial pathogen of cattle and wild ruminants, is transmitted biologically by ticks. A developmental cycle of A. marginale occurs in a tick that begins in gut cells followed by infection of salivary glands, which are the site of transmission to cattle. Geographic isolates of A. marginale vary in their ability to be transmitted by ticks. In these experiments we studied transmission of two recent field isolates of A. marginale, an Oklahoma isolate from Wetumka, OK, and a Florida isolate from Okeechobee, FL, by two populations of Dermacentor variabilis males obtained from the same regions. The Florida and Oklahoma tick populations transmitted the Oklahoma isolate, while both tick populations failed to transmit the Florida isolate. Gut and salivary gland infections of A. marginale, as determined by quantitative PCR and microscopy, were detected in ticks exposed to the Oklahoma isolate, while these tissues were not infected in ticks exposed to the Florida isolate. An adhesion-recovery assay was used to study adhesion of the A. marginale major surface protein (MSP) 1a to gut cells from both tick populations and cultured tick cells. We demonstrated that recombinant Escherichia coli expressing Oklahoma MSP1a adhered to cultured and native D. variabilis gut cells, while recombinant E. coli expressing the Florida MSP1a were not adherent to either tick cell population. The MSP1a of the Florida isolate of A. marginale, therefore, was unable to mediate attachment to tick gut cells, thus inhibiting salivary gland infection and transmission to cattle. This is the first report of MSP1a being responsible for effecting infection and transmission of A. marginale by Dermacentor spp. ticks. The mechanism of tick infection and transmission of A. marginale is important in formulating control strategies and development of improved vaccines for anaplasmosis.     

Major surface protein 1a effects tick infection and transmission of Anaplasma marginale

Anaplasma marginale, an ehrlichial pathogen of cattle and wild ruminants, is transmitted biologically by ticks. A developmental cycle of A. marginale occurs in a tick that begins in gut cells followed by infection of salivary glands, which are the site of transmission to cattle. Geographic isolates of A. marginale vary in their ability to be transmitted by ticks. In these experiments we studied transmission of two recent field isolates of A. marginale, an Oklahoma isolate from Wetumka, OK, and a Florida isolate from Okeechobee, FL, by two populations of Dermacentor variabilis males obtained from the same regions. The Florida and Oklahoma tick populations transmitted the Oklahoma isolate, while both tick populations failed to transmit the Florida isolate. Gut and salivary gland infections of A. marginale, as determined by quantitative PCR and microscopy, were detected in ticks exposed to the Oklahoma isolate, while these tissues were not infected in ticks exposed to the Florida isolate. An adhesion-recovery assay was used to study adhesion of the A. marginale major surface protein (MSP) 1a to gut cells from both tick populations and cultured tick cells. We demonstrated that recombinant Escherichia coli expressing Oklahoma MSP1a adhered to cultured and native D. variabilis gut cells, while recombinant E. coli expressing the Florida MSP1a were not adherent to either tick cell population. The MSP1a of the Florida isolate of A. marginale, therefore, was unable to mediate attachment to tick gut cells, thus inhibiting salivary gland infection and transmission to cattle. This is the first report of MSP1a being responsible for effecting infection and transmission of A. marginale by Dermacentor spp. ticks. The mechanism of tick infection and transmission of A. marginale is important in formulating control strategies and development of improved vaccines for anaplasmosis.     

Prevalence, distribution and risk associated with tick infestation of dogs in Great Britain

Current concerns over the potential impacts of climate change and the increased movement between countries of people and companion animals on the distribution of ectoparasites, highlight the need for accurate understanding of existing prevalence patterns. Without these future changes will not be detected. Here, the distribution and prevalence of tick infestations of domestic dogs in Great Britain were examined. A total of 173 veterinary practices were recruited to monitor tick attachment to dogs in their local areas between March and October 2009. Practices selected five dogs at random each week from those brought to the surgery and undertook a thorough, standardized examination for ticks. Each veterinary practice participated for 3 months before being replaced. Any ticks identified were collected and a sample sent to the investigators for identification, along with a clinical history of the dog. A total of 3534 dogs were examined; 810 dogs were found to be carrying at least one tick. Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus) (Acari: Ixodidae) was identified in 72.1% of cases, Ixodes hexagonus Leach in 21.7% and Ixodes canisuga Johnston in 5.6% of cases. Five samples of Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius) (Acari: Ixodidae) were also found, adding to the growing evidence that an established population of D. reticulatus now exists in south-eastern England. Almost all the ticks found were adults. Overall, 19.2% of the veterinary practices reported no tick detections, 50% reported that ≥14.9% of the dogs seen were infested and 14.6% reported that >50% of the dogs inspected carried ticks. The estimated incidence of tick attachment was 0.013 per day in March (lowest) and 0.096 per day in June (highest). A number of risk factors affected the likelihood of tick attachment on dogs. Gundog, terrier and pastoral breed groups were more likely to carry ticks, as were non-neutered dogs. Dogs with shorter hair were less likely to have ticks, and dogs were most likely to carry a tick in June. This study is of value because, unusually, it presents the results of a randomized sample of dogs and gives a prevalence which is higher than those previously recorded in Great Britain.     

Foci report on indigenous Dermacentor reticulatus populations in Belgium and a preliminary study of associated babesiosis pathogens

The occurrence of autochthonous clinical cases of canine and equine babesiosis in Belgium during the last two decades suggests that the vector of the pathogens responsible for these diseases, Dermacentor reticulatus (Ixodida: Ixodidae), may be present in this country. Consequently, evidence for the presence of this tick species in different locations within Belgium was investigated. Four different locations were monitored by flagging in 2010; these included the locations at which D. reticulatus was previously found on a dog in 2009 and on two red deer in 2007. Two different species of tick were identified, Ixodes ricinus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and D. reticulatus. A total of 282 D. reticulatus adult ticks (98 males, 184 females) were collected from the four sites. Ticks were found mainly from early March until the end of May and a peak in activity was apparent in March. A Babesia spp. (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae) genus-specific polymerase chain reaction test based on the amplification of a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene was used to investigate the potential presence of Babesia spp. All DNA extracts isolated from the total tick samples yielded negative results. Additional studies to accurately determine the distribution and vectorial capacity of this important tick species in Belgium are warranted.