How should an injection for a tick be made? - briefly
Use a fine‑gauge (30‑31 G) needle to deliver the acaricide subcutaneously at the tick’s base, ensuring the drug penetrates the tick’s body cavity without harming the host. Administer the recommended dose promptly and monitor for any adverse reaction.
How should an injection for a tick be made? - in detail
When delivering a micro‑injection into a tick, follow a controlled sequence to ensure accuracy and minimize harm to the specimen.
First, assemble sterile materials: a fine‑gauge glass capillary (30–50 µm tip), a micromanipulator, a pressure‑controlled injector, and a dissection microscope. Prepare the injection solution in a filtered syringe, confirming concentration and pH are compatible with tick physiology.
Second, immobilize the tick. Place the arthropod on a chilled platform (4–6 °C) for 1–2 minutes to induce temporary paralysis. Transfer the animal to a custom holder with a soft silicone pad, aligning the dorsal side upward. Secure the legs with fine pins, leaving the ventral abdomen exposed.
Third, locate the injection site. The preferred region is the opisthosomal membrane just anterior to the anal opening, where the cuticle is thin and the hemocoel is accessible. Clean the area with 70 % ethanol, then rinse with sterile phosphate‑buffered saline.
Fourth, insert the capillary. Using the micromanipulator, advance the needle at a shallow angle (10–15°) until the tip penetrates the cuticle. Observe the entry under the microscope to avoid damage to internal organs.
Fifth, deliver the payload. Activate the pressure injector to release the predetermined volume (typically 0.1–0.5 µL). Maintain steady flow for 2–3 seconds, then pause to allow diffusion. Withdraw the needle slowly to prevent backflow.
Sixth, monitor recovery. Return the tick to a temperature‑controlled incubator (25 °C, 80 % humidity). Observe for normal locomotion within 10 minutes. Record any adverse reactions and document injection parameters for reproducibility.
Key considerations:
- Use glass capillaries calibrated for sub‑nanoliter precision.
- Keep the injection solution on ice to preserve stability.
- Perform all steps under aseptic conditions to avoid contamination.
- Validate needle integrity before each session to prevent breakage inside the tick.
Adhering to this protocol yields consistent delivery of agents into ticks, facilitating experimental manipulation while preserving specimen viability.