SOME METHODS OF FEEDING TICKS*
By S. N. SAPRE, B.Sc., G.B.V.C. Research Scholar, Imperial Veterinary Research Institute,
Mukteswar
(Received for publication on 1 June 1942)
PROBLEMS encountered in feeding intermittent
feeders, such as Hyalomma, Rhiphicephalus and
Haemaphysalis, particularly where the hosts are
large animals, have been discussed by Lounsbury
[1902-1906]. For feeding these ticks and ensuring
their recovery after engorgement, he used a kind
of stocking to enclose them upon the legs of the
host, while bags with draw-strings were used when
the ticks were applied either to the scrotum or
the ear. He obtained the best results with the
scrotal bags.
Hooker, Bishopp and Wood [1912], while work-
ing out the life-histories of certain species of Ameri-
can cattle ticks, used what was essentially a
modification of Lounsbury's method. In addition
to Lounsbury's bag, they used a disc-shaped
leather collar for the ear. In the case of small
animals (e.g. rabbits), however, they claim to
have obtained better results by enclosing them
in cloth bags along with the ticks to be fed and
confining them in wire cages.
DuToit [1917] used a cloth garment for feeding
larvae and nymphs on the legs of cattle, the draw-
strings being tied at the waist and at the base of the
legs to prevent the escape of the ticks.
Morton [1928] developed what would appear to
be a very satisfactory method for feeding ticks on
rabbits. He used screen capsules, stamped out
from a twenty-mesh (20 in 1 inch) screening by
means of a die. The finished capsule has a circular
depression of three-eight of an inch by two inches
surrounded by a circular rim and looks like a
low-crowned hat. The rim of the capsule fits
tightly against the belly of the host, being fitted
to it by adhesive tape. Morton [1928] also evolv-
ed the so-called ' longevity tube method ' for
keeping alive unengorged ticks for any desired
period up to one year, until they were needed
for experimental work.
Nieschulz and Wawo-Roentoe [1930] used the
following method for feeding Rhipicephalus in its
different stages on mice, guinea-pigs and dogs.
They tied the host on to a plank and, after clipping
the hair from a small area on the back, stuck a
piece of linen with the parasites enclosed in it. to
the area by means of celloidin solution. A neck
collar was used for preventing the animal from
scratching off the linen.
Sen[1933] used a modification of Nieschulz and
Wawo-Roentoe's method for feeding Rhipicephalus
sanguineus, while experimenting upon the trans-
mission of Piroplasma gibsoni infection through
the agency of this species of tick. The method
consisted in the use of special cloth covers to en-
close the ticks over a limited area of the skin of the
host by means of celloidin solution and the adhe-
sive known as ' Chatterton's Compound ' For
protecting this cloth cover, he used the lid of a
cigarette tin with holes in it to admit air for the
ticks to breathe. He also used special coats and
card-board collars to prevent the ticks from being
scratched off by the animal.
Rees [1934] used car bags for rabbits as well as
for large animals. He used adhesive plaster
instead of draw-strings and covered the bags with
cylinders made of fine mesh copper screening
Bloomers or garments similar to those used by
DuToit with elastic bands instead of draw-strings
were also employed for feeding ticks on cattle.
Bags made of bolting silk cloth were used for
feeding fowl ticks on the wings of the hosts
which were enclosed in the above bags.
Kohls [1937], Trager [1939], and Bingham [1941]
employed pill-boxes containing ticks attached with
adhesive tape to the shaved sides of the hosts,
to permit repeated observations and careful
control of the engorging ticks. In each of the
above cases small animals such as guinea-pigs,
rabbits, and deer-mice were used.
In his attempt to work out the life-histories of
the commonest Indian ticks, the present writer
had to develop a suitable method for feeding them
on their natural hosts, e.g. cattle, goats and dogs.
Ear and scrotum bags were found unsuitable,
because, in the first place, they would not keep
on the host for the necessary length of time, and
secondly, because rats frequently gnawed holes
in the cloth, thereby allowing the ticks to escape.
It is relatively simple to feed Boophilus australis
on account of the fact that it is a continuous feeder.
Once the larvae are put on the animal's body,
they readily attach themselves to the skin, usually
after selecting a suitable place for the purpose,
and on moulting they re-attach themselves to a
neighbouring area, so that it is only necessary to
watch for the adult ticks to drop off after
engorgement. It is more difficult in the case of
interrupted feeders. For feeding these successfully,
*Paper read at the Indian Science Congress held at
Madras, January 1940
175