Life cycle of the southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Canestrini 1888 (Acari: Ixodidae) under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is one of the most important tick species affecting bovine wealth worldwide. Three uninterrupted generations of this species were observed under laboratory conditions (28±3 oC and 80±5% R.H.) using rabbit hosts. The average life cycle was determined as 65±8 days. Adult feeding period averaged 7.1±1.24 days. Pre-oviposition and oviposition periods averaged 4.1±1.3 days and 8.6±0.85 days, respectively. Pre-hatching periods averaged 21.03±2.99 days. Larval free-living and feeding to moulting periods averaged 3.5±0.75 days and 7.9±0.69 days, respectively. Nymphal feeding to moulting periods averaged 10.9±1.38 days. Weights of unfed and fed females averaged 1.26±0.29 mg and 120.32±45.6 mg, respectively and produced egg masses with average weights of 29.5±9.03 mg. Number of eggs per female averaged 1455.3±434.5 eggs with peak oviposition on the 3rd day. Average hatching rate was 83.5±2.94%, and the reproduction efficiency index averaged at 12.79±2.85. The conversion efficiency index averaged at 0.26±0.05 and the reproduction fitness index averaged at 10.68±2.4. Tick recovery rate averaged at 4.7%. A strong linear relationship was found between weights of engorged females and weights of egg masses (r = 0.83) and also between weights of engorged females and number of eggs laid (r = 0.82). This work aims to describe temporal and quantitative biological facts of R. (B.) microplus life cycles. Few studies have discussed R. (B.) microplus biology in quantitative terms, and these data can be useful in designing control plans or in epidemiological studies under laboratory conditions.

Tick and Host Derived Compounds Detected in the Cement Complex Substance

“…Rhipicephalus microplus are one-host ticks that complete parasitic stages of their life cycle while feeding on the same host and with an impact on cattle industry in tropical and subtropical regions of the world [3,46]. The R. microplus were selected for analysis because little information is available on cement composition in this tick species.…”

Viral Diversity of Tick Species Parasitizing Cattle and Dogs in Trinidad and Tobago

“…A total of 23 tick species have been identified in the Caribbean twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, parasitizing a wide range of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals 26 . Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Rhipicephalus microplus are particularly important due to their global distribution and association with tick-borne diseases 2,27,28 . R. sanguineus , commonly referred to as the brown dog tick, is a three-host tick that primarily feeds on canines but can also feed on cats, rodents, birds, and humans.…”

“…It has been implicated in the transmission of pathogenic species of Ehrlichia , Babesia , and Rickettsia 27 . R. microplus , commonly referred to as the southern cattle tick, is a one-host tick that feeds primarily on cattle, deer, and buffalo and has been linked with the transmission of Borrelia , Anaplasma , and Babesia species 28 . To date, neither species has been implicated in the transmission of a viral pathogen.…”

Background on the control of the cattle tick R. (B.) microplus and the use of coumarin substances as an alternative

“…The duration of the cycle is influenced by environmental factors such as climate and vegetation; 23 however, the duration of the cycle under controlled conditions (28±3⁰C and 80±5% RH) has an approximate duration of 49 to 81 days. 24…”