Effect of lufox on haemolymph and ovarian protein in the soft tick, Argas persicus.

Abstract

Changes in the total protein titer in the haemolymph (HL) and ovaries (Ov) of mated fed normal and Lufox treated female Argas persicus during the reproductive cycle and in the HL of normal male were studied. Tick engorgement was followed by an intial drop of the HL total protein concentration immediately and up to the 2 nd and 3 rd day after feeding (daf), then by a gradual increase on next days to reach maximum on 4-7 and 6-7 daf in the female and male, respectively. The level in the female HL was much higher than that in the male during vitellogenesis and the onset of oviposition. In the ovaries of normal female the total protein level increased gradually immediately up to 2 daf and evidently on 3 daf to reach a maximum on 5-7 daf. The protein level in the HL and ovaries decreased after the completion of oviposition (20 daf). Topical application of a single dose of 50 ppm Lufox on the mated female A. persicus on the 3 rd daf interfered with protein production causing a significant reduction in the total protein level in the HL (43.04-55.57%) and ovaries (36.47-46.43%) during vitellogenesis on 4-7 daf and in eggs (15.38%) freshly deposited by the treated female. Also, application of Lufox on the 3 rd daf altered the normal pattern of change in the level of HL and ovary total protein during the reproductive cycle by preventing any appreciable increase in the level on next days (4-7 daf) where the level remained constant in the ovaries and even decreased in the HL (4-5 daf).

Changes in Vitellogenic Proteins During The Reproductive Cycle of The Female Tick, Argas persicus

“…However, the number of protein fractions in the female HL of the different physiological states examined and their total sum were nearly two times higher in the female (23-24 and 236 fractions) than in male HL (11-12 and 116 fractions) during the whole period of study (unfed, 0-7 and 20 daf). The present results and the higher concentrations of the total protein in the HL of the female A.persicus than in male on 3-7 daf (Radwan et al,2015) are in agreement with findings in previously studied argasids such as A.hermanni (Shanbaky et al,1990 a) and Ornithodoros erraticus (Yousery,2011) and reflect the increasing demands of female argasids for proteins during vitellogenesis.…”

“…On 4-7 and 20 daf, the banding patterns increased to 27 patterns with Mwt of 9.51-140.76kD and a number of protein fractions of 20-23 fractions in the different physiological states with a total of 107 fractions during this period (Fig.3b). The evident increase in the numbers of ovary protein fractions on 4-7 and 20 daf conforms to results of the total proteins in A.persicus (Radwan et al, 2015) where their concentration in the ovaries was noticeably increased on the 4 th daf to reach maximal levels on 5-7 daf which followed the maximal levels of the total proteins in the female HL on 4-7 daf. This suggested an uptake and/or increased synthesis of proteins in the ovaries of A.persicus on 4-7 and 20 daf.…”

“…Mated unfed and fed ticks 1 hr and on different days after feeding (0, 1-7 and 20 daf) were used to provide HL, ovaries and freshly deposited eggs. Samples were obtained and prepared as described by Radwan et al (2015).…”

“…Changes in HL and ovarian total protein and fractions have been reported during oogenesis and oviposition of female ticks (Tatchell, 1971;Diehl et al, 1982;Shanbaky et al, 1990a, b;Yousry, 2011;Radwan et al, 2015). In argasid and ixodid ticks, egg yolk proteins (vitellins) were found to be synthesized endogenously inside the ovary (Araman, 1979) or exogenously outside the ovary as vitellogenins with subsequent transfer to oocytes via the HL (Taylor and Chinzei, 2001).…”

Effect of Borrelial Infection on Haemolymph and Ovarian Protein Concentrations During Vitellogenesis in Ornithodoros erraticus, a vector of Relapsing Fever in Egypt

“…The level of haemolymph total protein concentration of uninfected O. erraticus females largely decreased immediately after blood feeding and to a lesser extent on the 1 st and 2 nd days after feeding. A similar decrease was observed in the haemolymph of Argas hermanni (Shanbaky et al, 1990a) and Argas persicus (Radwan et al, 2015). This decrease was mainly attributed to dilution of haemolymph during concentration of the ingested blood meal inside the gut (Hefnawy, 1972;Hesse, 1984).Both authors observed an increase in the volume of haemolymph of Argas persicus, Argas arboreus and Ornithodoros moubata for a few days after feeding then the haemolymph volume gradually decreased until oviposition.…”