THE ENGORGEMENT OF IXODES HOLOCYCLUS NEUMANN (ACARINA: IXODOIDEA) ON MICE

Abstract

A single Ixodes holocyclus female was allowed to attach to the head of a mouse and feed. When the mouse died of respiratory paralysis the portion of the skin with the tick attached was removed. The skin was dissected from the hypostome of the tick, and the hypostome inserted into an incision in the skin of the head of another mouse whereupon the tick continued to engorge and killed the mouse. This procedure was repeated on the death of each of five mice. The time required to kill each mouse declined progressively from 72–92 hr to 12–18 hr indicating an increased secretion of toxin as engorgement proceeded. Thus it was possible to produce mice in advanced stages of tick paralysis at predetermined times, and thereby facilitate biochemical studies on the mode of action of the toxin produced by the tick. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved