Ecdysteroid Titers during Postembryonic Development of Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae)

Abstract

Ecdysteroid titers in methanolic extracts of protonymphal and deutonymphal stages of the chicken mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer), were measured using radioimmunoassay. Highest titers of ecdysteroids were present 24 h after feeding. Further studies using high-performance liquid chromatography radioimmunoassay showed that ecdysteroid immunopositive material had the same retention time as 20-hydroxyecdysone and ecdysone. Ecdysteroid conjugates appear to be present in polar and apolar fractions.