Physiological and behavioral effects of feeding of Argas reflexus larvae in laboratory mice

Subject Areas :

Farid Rezaei ¹ (Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran)
Maryam Maryam Karimi-Dehkord ² (Department of clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran)
Forogh Khavaran ³ (MSc graduet of Biology, Islamic Azad University, hamedan branch)

Received: 2021-04-13 Accepted : 2021-10-07 Published : 2021-09-23

Keywords: Mice, Argas reflexus, Physiologic, Larvae,

Abstract :

Inroduction & Objective: Argas reflexus or pigeon tick is a soft tick of Argas genus. This tick is an external parasite of poultry that often feeds on pigeon blood and is one of the most important pigeon ectoparasites that can endanger human health. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological and behavioral effects of feeding Argas reflexus larvae on mice. Material and Method: After collecting the Argas reflexus ticks and in vitro production of their larvae, mice were infected with 30, 40 and 50 larvae in three treatments, respectively, and 5 mice were treated in each treatment. Then, Physiological symptoms such as changes in weight and temperature, behavioral changes and skin symptoms were monitored and recorded daily. Results: The results of this study show with increasing the number of larvae in infected mice, the severity of symptoms also increase. It also seems that in addition to the number of larvae, the longer feeding of larvae from the body of laboratory animals, the greater the severity of clinical and cutaneous symptoms and their stability. Conclusion: According to the results, it is necessary to pay attention to the dangers of the presence of this tick in birds as the main host of this tick and also in the habitat of humans and to develop control and preventive programs against this tick.

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