Host Bloodmeal Identification in Cave-Dwelling Ornithodoros turicata Duges (Ixodida: Argasidae), Texas, USA.

ABSTRACT: Tick-host bloodmeal associations are important factors when characterizing risks of associated pathogen transmission and applying appropriate management strategies. Despite their biological importance, comparatively little is known about soft tick (Argasidae) host associations in the United States compared to hard ticks (Ixodidae). In this study, we evaluated a PCR and direct Sanger sequencing method for identifying the bloodmeal hosts of soft ticks. We collected 381 cave-associated Ornithodoros turicata near San Antonio, Texas, USA, and also utilized eight colony-reared specimens fed artificially on known host blood sources over 1.5 years ago. We correctly identified the vertebrate host bloodmeals of two colony-reared ticks (chicken and pig) up to 1,105 days post-feeding, and ident

SUBMITTER: Busselman RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7917080 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature