Infection with Babesia bovis alters metabolic rates of Rhipicephalus microplus ticks across life stages.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Metabolic responses to infection differ based on arthropod and pathogen. Increased metabolic rates can result in faster depletion of energetic resources, and decreases may allow for energy conservation. Babesia bovis is a protozoan pathogen transmitted by the cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus microplus. Adult female ticks acquire B. bovis by feeding on an infected animal. Babesia bovis undergoes development and invades the ovaries where it is transmitted transovarially to tick offspring. The effects of infection on R. microplus metabolic rate are not well studied.

Methods

We tested the hypothesis that R. microplus infected with B. bovis would have altered metabolic rates (volume of carbon dioxide [VCO₂]) across life stages using flow-through respirometry

SUBMITTER: Earls KN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11872307 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature