PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
With the introduction of siliconized artificial membranes, various artificial feeding systems (AFS) for hard ticks (Ixodidae) have been developed over the last decades. Most AFS utilize similar core components but employ diverse approaches, materials, and experimental conditions. Published work describes different combinations of the core components without experimental optimizations for the artificial feeding of different tick species. Amblyomma americanum L., (Acari: Ixodidae) (lone star tick) is a known vector and reservoir for diverse tick-borne pathogens, such as Rickettsia amblyommatis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Ongoing environmental changes have supported the expansion of A. americanum into new habitats, contributing to increased tick-borne diseases in endemic areas. However, a significant knowledge gap exists in understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in A. americanum interactions with tick-borne pathogens. Here, we performed a systematic analysis and developed an optimized AFS for nymphal lone star ticks. Our results demonstrate that Goldbeater\'s membranes, rabbit hair, hair extract, and adult lone star ticks significantly improved the attachment rate of nymphal ticks, whereas tick frass and frass extract did not. With the optimized conditions, we achieved an attachment rate of 46 ± 3% and a success rate of 100% (i.e., one or more attached ticks) in each feeding experiment for nymphal lone star ticks. When fed on sheep blood spiked with R. amblyommatis, both nymphal and adult lone star ticks acquired and maintained R. amblyommatis, demonstrating the feasibility of studying A. americanum-pathogen interactions using AFS. Our study can serve as a roadmap to optimize and improve AFS for other medically relevant tick species.
摘要：
随着硅化人造膜的引入，在过去的几十年中，已经开发了各种用于硬蜱（Ixodidae）的人工饲喂系统（AFS）。大多数AFS使用类似的核心组件，但采用不同的方法，材料,和实验条件。已发表的工作描述了核心部件的不同组合，而没有针对不同蜱物种的人工喂养进行实验优化。americanumL.,（Acari：Ixodidae）（孤星蜱）是多种蜱传播病原体的已知媒介和储库，如立克次体和查菲埃里希亚。持续的环境变化支持了美洲曲霉向新栖息地的扩张，导致流行地区蜱传疾病增加。然而,在理解美洲念珠菌与蜱传病原体相互作用的潜在机制方面存在显著的知识差距。这里,我们对若虫孤星蜱进行了系统分析，并开发了优化的AFS。我们的结果表明，Goldbeater的膜，兔毛,头发提取物,成年孤星蜱显著提高了若虫蜱的附着率，而壁虱弗拉斯和弗拉斯提取物没有。在优化的条件下，我们实现了46±3%的依恋率和100%的成功率(即，一个或多个附着的蜱）在每个若虫孤星蜱的喂食实验中。当喂掺有双歧杆菌的绵羊血时，若虫和成年孤星蜱都获得并维持了弱视R.，证明了使用AFS研究美洲曲霉-病原体相互作用的可行性。我们的研究可以作为优化和改进其他医学相关蜱物种AFS的路线图。
