How are ticks bred? - briefly
Ticks are kept in laboratory colonies by feeding engorged individuals on small host animals (e.g., rabbits, rodents) within incubators set to approximately 25 °C and 80 % humidity. Eggs are harvested from these females, incubated, and the resulting larvae are re‑infested on hosts to maintain a continuous breeding cycle.
How are ticks bred? - in detail
Ticks are laboratory‑reared using controlled environmental chambers that simulate the natural conditions required for each life stage. The process begins with a colony of adult females, which are placed on a warmed surface (typically 25–28 °C) with relative humidity of 80–95 %. Blood meals are supplied by attaching a membrane feeder or by allowing the ticks to feed on restrained laboratory animals such as rodents or rabbits. After engorgement, females detach, lay thousands of eggs in a moist substrate, and are then removed from the colony.
Eggs are kept in a sealed container with high humidity (≈90 %) and the same temperature range. They hatch into larvae after 2–4 weeks, depending on species. Larvae are collected using a fine brush and transferred to individual vials or small petri dishes containing a moist filter paper. To obtain a blood meal, larvae are placed on a host animal or offered a heated blood‑agar membrane. After feeding, they drop off, molt into nymphs, and are again housed in humid chambers.
Nymphs undergo the same feeding protocol as larvae, but require a larger host and longer feeding period. Post‑feeding, they detach, molt to adults, and are separated by sex using microscopic examination of genital openings. Adult males and females are maintained in separate containers until mating. Mating is facilitated by placing a male with a partially fed female in a small arena; copulation typically lasts several minutes.
Key steps for successful tick rearing:
- Environmental control – temperature 25–28 °C, relative humidity 80–95 %, photoperiod 12 h light/12 h dark.
- Host provision – live mammals (e.g., mice, rabbits) or artificial membrane feeders with defibrinated blood.
- Cleaning and sterilization – all containers, tools, and substrates are autoclaved or disinfected to prevent microbial contamination.
- Monitoring – daily checks for feeding status, mortality, and molting progress; records kept for each cohort.
- Colony maintenance – periodic introduction of wild‑caught individuals to preserve genetic diversity and avoid inbreeding depression.
By adhering to these parameters, researchers can produce large, healthy tick populations for studies on pathogen transmission, vaccine testing, and acaricide efficacy.