Effects of 60Co irradiation of the early developmental stages of an ixodid tick, Hyalomma anatolicum.

Various developmental stages of Hyalomma anatolicum were subjected to a range of doses of 60Co radiation from 0-10 000 R, and their subsequent development was observed. Some of these ticks were infected with Theileria annulata. Doses of 2000 R and over prevented all but a very limited development of ticks. After 1000 R a proportion of exposed individuals continued development in a near-normal manner. Lower doses had proportionately less effect. 1000 R to ticks infected with T. annulata failed to prevent transmission of typical theileriasis to calves.