Feeding ofBoophilus micropluslarvae on a partially defined medium through thin slices of cattle skin

Abstract

Larvae of the cattle tickBoophilus micropluswill attach to thin (0·3–0·5 mm) slices of cattle skin and engorge on a partially denned medium at 35 °C. Forty-seven to 83% of the larvae had engorged by 8 days, and 51–71% of these moulted to nymphs. Tissue culture medium alone allowed little growth unless supplemented with dialysed, freeze dried bovine serum (7%, w/v). This medium could be further defined by substituting purified bovine serum albumin (Cohn fraction V) for the dialysed bovine serum. In one experiment, nymphs ofHaemaphysalis longicornisengorged and later moulted to adults. Skin slices were used fresh or after freeze-drying and storing at − 25 °C. The possible uses of the culture method are discussed.