Comparative inhibition kinetics for acetylcholinesterases extracted from organophosphate resistant and susceptible strains of Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

In this study, acetylcholinesterases (AChEs) were extracted from two Mexican Boophilus microplus strains that demonstrated resistance to the organophosphate (OP) acaricide, coumaphos, in bioassay. The rate of inhibition of the extracted AChEs by the diethyl-OP paraoxon was determined for two resistant strains and two susceptible strains of B. microplus. The time to inhibition of 50% AChE activity was approximately two-fold greater for the resistant strains. Kinetic analysis of the interaction of the resistant AChEs with paraoxon revealed reduced bimolecular reaction constants (ki). Apparent conformational changes in the AChE of the resistant strains were reflected in reduced Km and Vmax values. The bimolecular reaction constants (ki) of the resistant strains were most affected by a slower rate of enzyme phosphorylation (k2).     

The supercooling ability of ticks (Acari,Ixodoidea)

 The supercooling capacity of nine laboratory- held species of ticks originating from different geographical areas, as well as five field-collected species from Germany, was investigated. All but one tick species showed mean supercooling points between about −17 and −23 °C, suggesting that the capacity to supercool to temperatures of ≤−17 °C might be an inherent property of many tick species unrelated to their geographic origin. Photoperiod did not influence the mean supercooling point in any of the species and there was also no distinct seasonal pattern of supercooling in seasonally acclimatized Dermacentor marginatus. Thus, the supercooling ability was independent of the presence/absence of diapause. The finding of thermal hysteresis in D. marginatus hemolymph raises the question of whether or not anti-freeze proteins are involved in the supercooling capacity of that species. An interspecies comparison revealed a weak negative correlation between relative water content and supercooling point of the ticks and an even weaker correlation between body mass or body water mass and the supercooling point. Since the ticks exhibited low supercooling points both before and shortly after feeding, the blood used as food should lack potent ice nucleators. Accepted: 14 June 1996     

Cytogenetics of ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea)

Chromosomes and sex determination of 9 species of Haemaphysalis assigned to 4 subgenera are described. H. (tAlloceraea) kitaokai possesses an XX∶XO sex chromosome system with 18 autosomes plus XX in females; 18 plus X in males. H. (Kaiseriana) hystricis has 18 +XX and 18 + XY in females and males, respectively, in most specimens, but a supernumerary chromosome is present in some individuals. A supernumerary chromosome was also observed in 1 male H. (Aborphysalis) formosensis. These two species are the second and third species of ticks reported to have supernumerary chromosomes. H. formosensis, H. (Kaiseriana) bispinosa, H. (Haemaphysalis) campanulata, H. (H.) flava, H. (H.) megaspinosa, H. (H.) japonica, and H. (H.) pentalagi possess 20 autosomes plus 2 sex chromosomes in females and 20+1 sex chromosomes in males. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Haemaphysalis are briefly discussed.     

Cytogenetics of ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea)

Summary Prior to this paper there have been no reports of a multiple sex chromosome mechanism operative in any tick. The present paper deals with two species of Ixodidae, Amblyomma moreliae and Amblyomma limbatum that exhibit an X₁X₁X₂X₂:X₁X₂Y type of sex chromosome mechanism. Cells from males of both species show nine bivalents plus one sex trivalent. Eleven bivalents were observed in one female A. moreliae. The sex trivalent probably evolved through reciprocal translocation from a system that included ten autosomal bivalents and one sex univalent (the system found in most ixodid species). As a result of the translocation, there are now two X chromosomes (X₁ and X₂) segregating from an unaltered autosome, the neo-Y. A large X chromosome is characteristic of many ticks; in this instance the reciprocal translocation did not change appreciably its relative size.The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private ones of the author and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval service at large.This study was begun during the tenure of a North Alantic Treaty Organization (National Science Foundation) Postdoctoral Fellowship.     

Cytogenetics of ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea)

Haemaphysalis longicornis consists of diploid bisexual races (20+ XX; 20+X), triploid obligatory parthenogenetic races (30–35 chromosomes) and an aneuploid race capable of bisexual and parthenogenetic reproduction (22–28 chromosomes). Karyotypes were analyzed for each race. Hybridization failed between diploid and triploid races, but succeeded between bisexual diploid males and parthenogenetic aneuploid females. F₁ and F₂ progeny were produced and their chromosomes studied. Crossing of F₁ progeny to a bisexual race was successful. Parthenogenetic ability was almost completely lost in F₁ and F₂ females. Several possible modes of evolution from diploid bisexual individuals to triploid parthenogenetic ones are discussed as is species characterization in taxa with races reproducing bisexually, parthenogenetically and by a combination of both methods.Supported in part by National Science Foundation Research Grant GB-21008, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH) Grant 09556 and the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, Office of The Surgeon General, Department of the Army, Washington, D. C. 20315, U.S.A.     

The interaction between organophosphorus insecticides and esterases in homogenates of organophosphate susceptible and resistant houseflies

Housefly homogenates contain different esterases, which compete for added organophosphates. Among these the cholinesterase and an ali-esterase rank first. If small amounts of organophosphate are added, the final result of the competition depends on the amounts of the esterases present and their reaction rates. The bimolecular rate constants (Table I) show that the ali-esterase is a powerful competitor of the cholinesterase for DDVP, paraoxon and diazoxon. Accordingly it was found that removal of the ali-esterase by denaturation (AD-treatment) strongly enhances the inhibition of the cholinesterase by these three compounds (Tables II, III and IV; Figs 1, 2 and 3), but not by tetram and QAT.In homogenates of organophosphate resistant flies, which as previously shown contain much less ali-esterase, cholinesterase inhibition was generally much stronger than in susceptible homogenates (Table IV: Figs 1, 2 and 3). It seemed difficult to reconcile these findings with previous observations showing that low ali-esterase activity and resistance are closely connected. Further studies, however, showed that resistant flies contain a modified ali-esterase which has the capacity of degrading the organophosphates (P=O compounds) to which resistance has developed. The change of the ali-esterase (in susceptible flies) into a phosphatase (the modified enzyme in resistant flies) is due to a single gene mutation, which in the two resistant strains investigated is also responsible for the resistance. In each of these two strains the phosphatase shows a very high affinity for its substrates-paraoxon and diazoxon.

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Zusammenfassung Wenn einem Stubenfliegen-Homogenisat Phosphorsäure-Ester zugesetzt werden, dann werden mehrere Esterasen in wechselseitiger Konkurrenz mit diesen Substanzen zu reagieren versuchen. Die wichtigsten sind die Cholinesterase und eine Aliesterase, die zur Hydrolyse des Methyl- und Phenylbutyrats und mehrerer anderen Ester befähigt ist. Nach Zusatz geringer Mengen von Phosphorsäure-Ester wird das Endergebnis dieses Wettbewerbes von den Quantitäten der Esterasen und ihren Reaktionsgeschwindigkeiten abhängig sein.Tabelle I zeigt die bimolekularen Geschwindigkeitskonstanten für die Reaktionen zwischen der Cholinesterase und der Aliesterase und den fünf untersuchten Estern: DDVP, Paraoxon, Diazoxon, Tetram und QAT (die quaternären Phosphonothiolat-Analoge von Tetram). Aus diesen Daten wird geschlossen, daß die Aliesterase ein wichtiger Konkurrent der Cholinesterase für DDVP, Paraoxon und Diazoxon darstellt. Dementsprechend wurde gefunden, daß ach Beseitigung der Aliesterase mittels einer Denaturierung (AD-Verfahren) die Hemmung der Cholinesterase durch diese drei Substanzen bedeutend höher ist (Tabelle II, III und IV; Fig. 1, 2 und 3), nicht aber jene durch Tetram und QAT.In Homogenisaten von Phosphorester-resistenten Fliegen, die — wie früher gezeigt wurde — viel weniger Aliesterase enthalten, war die Hemmung der Cholinesterase meistens viel stärker als in empfindlichen Homogenisaten (Tabelle IV; Fig. 1, 2 und 3). Es erschien schwer, diese Befunde mit dem früheren in Einklang zu bringen, daß niedrige Aliesterase-Aktivität und Resistenz eng verbunden seien. Weitere Versuche aber zeigten, daß resistente Fliegen eine modifizierte Aliesterase enthalten, die keine oder eine nur geringe Aktivität gegenüber Methyl- und Phanylbutyrat aufweist, aber die Fähigkeit besitzt, die Phosphorsäure-Ester, gegen welche Resistenz besteht, abzubauen. Die Substrat-Spezifizität und Aktivität wiesen eine deutliche Korrelation mit der Art und Höhe der Resistenz auf.Die Umwandlung der Aliesterase (in empfindlichen Fliegen) in eine Phosphatase (das modifizierte Enzym in resistenten Fliegen) wird durch eine einzige Gen-Mutation verursacht. Diese ist in den zwei untersuchten Stämmen auch für die Resistenz verantwortlich.Die Phosphatasen haben eine hohe Affinität für ihre Substrate, Paraoxon und Diazoxon. Die Abbau-Geschwindigkeit in vitro (0.01–0.04 g/St/Fliege) ist aber niedrig im Vergleich mit den gefundenen LD₅₀-Werten. Da ihre Bedeutung für den Mechanismus der Resistenz feststeht, muß entweder angenommen werden, daß der Abbau in vivo schneller verläuft oder daß strukturelle Faktoren in der lebenden Fliege einen wichtigen Einfluß ausüben.Weitere Betrachtungen ermöglichten die Berechnung der wahrscheinlichen Aliesterase- und Phosphatase-Konzentration und der Umsatzzahlen für Diazoxon in Homogenisaten.

     

Hard ticks (Acari,Ixodidae) of Croatia

The present paper is based on original and literature data. In Croatia the first studies on the occurrence of ixodid species were made about 80 years ago. The number of tick species recorded in Croatia considerably increased during the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s of the past century. A total of 21 species of hard tick belonging to 5 genera have been recorded in Croatia. Ixodes is the best represented genus, with seven species recorded. Haemaphysalis is represented by six species, followed by Rhipicephalus with four species. Dermacentor and Hyalomma are represented by two species each. The ticks were collected on 47 different host species. Eleven tick species were collected on Bos taurus and Ovis aries, followed by Capra hircus and Equus caballus with 8 species and Canis lupus familiaris with 6 species. On the remaining 42 host species one, two or three tick species were collected. The most widespread tick is Ixodes ricinus which was found on 25 different host species.     

Coitinuous cell lines from embryonic tissues of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

Summary Six new cell lines were established in continous culture from embryonic tissues of ixodid ticks. Four were fromDermacentor variabilis and two fromD. parumapertus. The cells are mostly fibroblastic and diploid. Mosquito-borne viruses (Chikungunya, O'nyong, yellow fever, and St. Louis encephalitis) as well as tick-borne ones (Langat, Powassan, Colorado tick fever, Kemerovo, and Sawgrass) replicated in certain of these cell lines, but a nonvector-borne flavivirus, Modoc, did not. An undescribed virus fromD. occidentalis ticks, which could not be isolated in Vero cells or newborn mice, was readily isolated in theD. variabilis cell line.     

The enzymatic degradation of malathion in organophosphate resistant and susceptible strains of Musca domestica

The metabolic fate of malathion in susceptible and organophosphate resistant strains of houseflies was studied by means of radioisotope-techniques, in vivo and in vitro. The main interstrain difference was the superior ability of the two malathion resistant strains to degrade malathion to its monocarboxylic acid derivative. Attempts were made to characterize the carboxyesterases responsible for this difference with respect to heat stability, pH dependency and organophosphate inhibition, and to estimate their importance in causing resistance by means of cross-resistance and synergism experiments. The relation to, and possible identity of the carboxyesterases with, the malaoxon degrading enzymes previously found in the malathion resistant strains is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Der Malathionmetabolismus wurde mit Hilfe der Radioisotopentechnik in normal empfindlichen und organophosphatresistenten Stubenfliegenstämmen in vivo und in vitro untersucht Die beiden malathionresistenten Stämme konnten Malathion besser in seinen Monocarboxylsäure-Abkömmling abbauen. Es wurde versucht, die hierfür verantwortliche Carboxyesterase hinsichtlich ihrer Hitzestabilität, pH-Abhängigkeit und Hemmbarkeit durch Organophosphate zu charakterisieren und ihre Bedeutung in der Resistenzbildung durch Kreuzungsresistenz- und Synergismusversuche zu bestimmen. Die Beziehung der besonders in den malathionresistenten Stämmen gefundenen malaoxonabbauenden Enzyme zu den Carboxyesterasen und ihre mögliche Identität mit denselben wird diskutiert.

     

Secretory process of salivary glands of female Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks fed on resistant rabbits

Ticks have great economic and health importance since infested animals have reduced milk and meat production, and, besides that, they are expensive ectoparasites to control. While feeding, ticks can transmit to their hosts a large amount of pathogens, including Rickettsia rickettsii responsible for the ??spotted fever?? or ??fever of the mountains.?? It is known that animals infested with ticks or artificially immunized with their salivary gland extracts develop resistance, which is related to a decrease in engorged female weight, in egg-laying by adults, in egg viability and, in some cases, in the capacity of pathogens transmission. The present study aimed to examine morpho-histochemically the female salivary glands of semi and engorged Amblyomma cajennense fed on resistant rabbits. The results revealed that acinus I had no changes when compared to that of females fed on naive rabbits. The c cells of acinus II showed signs of early degeneration, which may result in feeding efficiency decrease. In acinus III d cells, activity time was longer. Such occurrence was associated with the time of female fixation, which increased in females fed on resistant hosts.     

Detachment of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from hunted sika deer (Cervus nippon)

Ixodid ticks were collected from 13 sika deer, Cervus n. nippon, shot in the Boso Peninsula in central Japan from late February to early March 1999. Haemaphysalis megaspinosa was the most abundant species of the adults collected, although Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, H. kitaokai, H. cornigera, Ixodes ovatus, and Amblyomma testudinarium were also collected. Males were more abundant than females for H. longicornis, H. megaspinosa, H. flava, and H. kitaokai. Ticks that had inserted their hypostome into its host skin (designated attached) were distinguished from those that were detached and on the host’s surface. A greater fraction of males than females of all four species were detached. Females were classified in three feeding stages (engorged, partially engorged, and unfed). More H. longicornis and H. megaspinosa unfed female ticks than engorged and partially-engorged female ticks were collected detached. Our results indicated that H. megaspinosa, H. longicornis, H. flava, and H. kitaokai male ticks detached sooner than female ticks after their host died.     

Questing behaviour of Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

The vertical distribution in the vegetation of questing Ixodes ricinus ticks was investigated in two different vegetation types (high and low vegetation) at two localities in south-central Sweden during 1992-1993 (Toro) and 1995 (Bogesund). Significant correlations were found between the vertical distribution of immature ticks and the height of the vegetation. The greatest mean availabilities of the larvae and nymphs in low vegetation were in the intervals 0-9 and 30-39 cm, respectively. The larval numbers were greatest close to the ground (0-29 cm) in both high and low vegetation. The larval : nymphal ratio, at ground level at localities free of ground vegetation, varied between 8 : 1 and 32 : 1. In high vegetation, the greatest mean numbers of nymphal and adult ticks were at height intervals of 50-59 and 60-79 cm, respectively. These ranges are within the estimated height interval (40-100 cm) of the main part of the body surface of their preferred host, the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). The presence of most questing I. ricinus larvae at ground level would favour the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., since this is where the highly reservoir-competent rodents and shrews usually occur.     

The distribution of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of domestic livestock in Portugal

This paper introduces the first countrywide faunistic study of the tick parasites on ruminants in Portugal. The aim of this study was to map accurately the distribution of the ticks Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, R. bursa, Hyalomma m. marginatum, H. lusitanicum and Ixodes ricinus in Portugal. Additional information about the abiotic preferences of these species has been obtained through the use of abiotic (temperature- and vegetation-derived) variables have been recorded from remotely sensed information at a nominal resolution of 1.1 km². A further aim was the development of predictive models of distribution using Classification and Regression Trees (CART) methodologies. Four species (R. annulatus, R. bursa, D. marginatus and H. m. marginatum) are mostly restricted to south-eastern parts of the country, under hot and dry climate conditions of Mediterranean type. H. lusitanicum has been collected almost only in the southern half of Portugal. I. ricinus has a very patchy distribution and is mainly associated with vegetation of Quercus spp., found in southern zones of the country, but it is present also in the more humid western part. A variable number of abiotic variables, mainly temperature derived, are able to describe the preferences of the tick species. It is remarkable that variables derived from maximum values of the Normalized Derived Vegetation Index (yearly or summer-derived) only apply to discriminate areas where I. ricinus has been collected. CART models are able to map the distribution of these ticks with accuracy ranging within 75.3 and 96.4% of actual positive sites.     

The life cycle of Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks under laboratory conditions

The developmental stages in the life cycle of Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis were investigated under laboratory conditions. The larval, nymphal and adult ticks were fed on sheep at 25–27 °C, 50 % relative humidity (RH) and exposed to daylight. All free-living stages were maintained in an incubator (28 °C with 90 % RH and a 12-h photoperiod). The whole life cycle of H. qinghaiensis was completed in an average of 176 days (range 118–247 days). The average developmental periods were 34.44 days for egg incubation; 5.83, 4.20 and 33.70 days for larval pre-feeding, feeding and pre-molting; and 3.88, 5.30 and 46.50 days for nymphal pre-feeding, feeding and pre-molting. The average times for pre-feeding, feeding, pre-oviposition and oviposition of female adult ticks were 2.60, 11.40, 8.50, and 19.35 days, respectively. The results confirmed the positive correlation between the weight of the engorged female and the egg mass laid (r = 0.557, P < 0.05). The reproductive efficiency index and reproductive fitness index in females were 5.49 and 4.98, respectively. Engorged nymphs moulting to females (4.53 ± 0.16 mg) were significantly heavier (P < 0.001) than those moulting to males (3.45 ± 0.19 mg). The overall sex ratio of the adult ticks was 1:1.1 (M:F).     

The comparison of intrinsic rates of increase among chromosome-substituted lines resistant and susceptible to organophosphate insecticides in Drosophila melanogaster

To investigate the genetic basis of the seasonal fluctuations in resistance to three organophosphates, observed within a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen), we compared the intrinsic rate of increase, generation time and net reproduction rate among chromosome substitution lines derived from a resistant and a susceptible line, obtained from this natural population. There was significant variation among substituted lines; lines possessing the third chromosome from the resistant line, which confers resistance to the three organophosphates, generally showed lower mean values of these fitness measures. Chromosomal analyses also indicated significant negative contributions of the third chromosome from the resistant line. However, significant positive contributions of the interactions among chromosomes from the resistant line to these fitness measures were also detected. We further conducted a local stability analysis, in which each chromosome-substituted line was assumed to be introduced at a low frequency into the initial susceptible population. It was demonstrated that the resistance factor(s) on the third chromosome tend to decrease in their frequency under both density-independent and juvenile density-regulated conditions. Based on these results, a possible explanation for the seasonal fluctuations in resistance to the three organophosphates observed in the natural population was proposed.