Induction of host resistance toRhipicephalus appendiculatus in rabbits: Effects of immunizing with detergent-solubilized tick tissue proteins

Resistance to the hard tick,Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, was induced in rabbits by immunizing them with tick tissue proteins extracted with a detergent, Triton X-100. There was 25% mortality in female ticks fed on immunized rabbits as compared with those fed on controls. Similarly, there was a 40% and 60% reduction in the engorged weight and the weight of egg batches, respectively, of ticks fed on immunized rabbits. Western blot analysis of detergent-solubilized tick tissue Western blot analysis of detergent-solubilized tick tissue proteins, carried out using immune sera, recognized a complex pattern of proteins. A strong reaction was observed with proteins with apparent molecular weights of 94000 and 40000 daltons.This work was carried out at the Institute of Zoology, University of Neuchâtel, Chantemerle 22, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland