Effect of low temperature and relative humidity on reproduction and survival of the tick Rhipicephalus microplus

Experimental & Applied Acarology
Leandra Marla OshiroRenato Andreotti

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival of Rhipicephalus microplus females under low temperature, to determine the influence of temperature and relative humidity (RH) on the biological parameters of this tick. In total 300 viable engorged female ticks collected from cattle were used. On the day of collection (D0), 30 female ticks were divided into three groups: G1, kept at 28 °C and 80% RH; G2, kept at 20 °C and 80% RH; and G3, kept at 20 °C and 30% RH. The remaining females were stored in a refrigerator at 4 °C. Over the next 9 days (D+1 to D+9), 30 female ticks were removed daily from the refrigerator and distributed among the three treatments. Egg mass, feed conversion rate, egg incubation period, larval hatch rate, number of dead females per group, weight of female tick removed from the refrigerator, and female tick weight loss were recorded. At 20 °C and 80% RH hatching was delayed. Among the female ticks kept in the refrigerator and then allocated to groups G1, G2, and G3, there was a reduction in reproductive efficiency and a rise in mortality as time in the refrigerator increased. The female ticks expressed their best reproductive capacity when subjected to the refrigeration temperature for a maximum of...Continue Reading

References

Sep 1, 1989·Journal of Medical Entomology·R B Davey, L M Cooksey
Jul 24, 2014·Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinária = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Órgão Oficial do Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária·Laerte GrisiHumberto Silva Villela
Dec 10, 2019·Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases·Marcelo B LabrunaAlberto A Guglielmone

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