Olfactory responses of Amblyomma maculatum to rumen fluid and other odourants that attract blood‐seeking arthropods

Abstract

Amblyomma maculatum Koch (Ixodida: Ixodidae) has emerged as a significant vector of human and companion animal diseases in the U.S.A. When expanding in range, A. maculatum can be difficult to collect in the field and control on livestock. A novel method is needed to improve the field collection of A. maculatum, as well as to control their effects as ectoparasites of livestock and companion animals. The present study aimed to test the effects of known volatiles on the activation and selection choices of A. maculatum in a laboratory‐based Y‐tube assay and field‐based assays. Although the majority of adult A. maculatum were activated to move by five of the seven semiochemicals tested, only rumen fluid significantly attracted ticks to make a selection in the Y‐tube apparatus. Rumen fluid attracted the most A. maculatum in the laboratory, with 56% (84/150) making it to the rumen Y‐tube arm, although the results were not replicated in semi‐field experiments. These studies highlight the need for continued work to identify attractants for tick vectors that will assist field collections. These attractants could also be incorporated into management strategies that lead to prevention technologies to reduce tick burdens on cattle or in risk areas of humans.

Chemosensory and Behavioural Responses of Ixodes scapularis to Natural Products: Role of Chemosensory Organs in Volatile Detection

“…The lack of antennae, the presence of very few olfactory sensilla, the development of a distinctive organ (Haller’s) used for volatile detection, and the multimodal role of sensilla located on mouthparts make ticks a fascinating system for understanding how chelicerates (and particularly Ixodidae) detect chemicals [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Previous studies have focused on investigating tick responses to attractant stimuli, such as chemicals emitted by suitable hosts (CO 2 , typical human odors, or compounds produced by vertebrates) [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Moreover, there are several examples of behavioural bioassays used to validate the repellent activity of compounds from synthetic and natural origin, allowing isolation of potential new active ingredients for the development of more effective tick repellent products [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Questing Behavior by Amblyomma maculatum at Semi-Field Conditions in Oklahoma

“…Each tick was marked with one of five colors of fluorescent powder (Day-glo ECO pigments™, Day-glo Color Corp., Cleveland, OH) and returned to their respective plastic containers to rest. The markers were previously evaluated in the laboratory with no significant effect on activity (Garner et al 2020). After 24 hours, one tick of each sex of each color was put into each of six mesh cages.…”

“…The latest studies indicated the importance of A. maculatum as a vector of tick-borne pathogens affecting humans and animals that might be increasing in the region (Paddock et al 2015, Noden et al 2020). While the off-host activity period for A. maculatum might be long within a 24-hour period, there is need to continue evaluating ways to improve collection of this important tick species even if it includes use of rumen volatiles that seem to attract ticks short distances (Garner et al 2020).…”