Immunisation of rabbits against the brown ear tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus using tick haemolymph. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.

Abstract

Tick naive rabbits were Immunised with haemolymph components from partially fed Rhipicephalus appelldiculatlls adult ticks and subsequently challenged with all the developmental instars of the tick. The results obtained showed that the rabbits were rendered resistant to all the instars of the tick. However, the resistance was more pronounced In adult ticks than in the immature stages. The resistance was mamfested as a reduction in the number of ticks that fed successfully to engorgement, reduced engorgement weights and reduced fecundities. Re challenging the resistant experimental rabbits with all the developmental instar stages of Rhipicephaills appendiclllatus showed that resistance was maintained in subsequent infestations.