Establishment of an Artificial Tick Feeding System to Study Theileria lestoquardi Infection.
Authors: Tajeri Shahin, Razmi Gholamreza, Haghparast Alireza
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Theileriosis research has long relied on infecting ticks by allowing them to feed on naturally infected animals, an approach that presents significant practical constraints and ethical concerns in an equine and livestock research context. Tajeri Shahin and colleagues developed a modified artificial feeding system to infect nymphal *Hyalomma anatolicum* ticks with *Theileria lestoquardi*, a virulent sheep pathogen, comparing silicone membranes against mouse skin as feeding substrates. Mouse skin proved substantially more effective than silicone, achieving high tick attachment rates and successful parasite transmission; notably, infected adult ticks that emerged from artificially-fed nymphs were capable of transmitting infective parasites to sheep, whilst *Rhipicephalus bursa*—previously considered a potential vector—failed to establish competent infection. This controlled experimental model eliminates the need for infected animals during the laboratory phase of research, substantially reducing both practical hurdles and welfare concerns whilst enabling detailed investigation of tick-parasite interactions that are otherwise difficult to manipulate. For equine and livestock professionals involved in theileriosis management or research in endemic regions, this work provides a foundation for investigating tick vector competence and parasite dynamics without relying on field-caught infected animals.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Hyalomma anatolicum is the confirmed vector for T. lestoquardi in sheep, not Rhipicephalus bursa—this affects tick control strategies for theileriosis prevention.
- •Artificial feeding systems using biological membranes provide an alternative to infecting ticks via live animal feeding, reducing reliance on experimental animal use.
- •Understanding tick-parasite dynamics through controlled experimental infection may improve targeted control measures for tick-borne theileriosis in livestock operations.
Key Findings
- •Artificial tick feeding system using mouse skin membrane successfully infected Hyalomma anatolicum nymphs with Theileria lestoquardi, whereas silicone membranes were unsuccessful.
- •Emerging adult H. anatolicum ticks infected via artificial feeding system transmitted infective parasites to sheep, demonstrating competence as vectors.
- •Rhipicephalus bursa was not a competent vector for T. lestoquardi despite previous proposals, indicating species-specific vector competence.