Biological parameters of cattle ticks fed on rabbits

With the objective of encouraging the use of rabbits as alternative hosts for the cattle tick, four rabbits were infested on the ears and back. From the second day of infestation the developmental stages were observed. The duration of larval engorgement and changes were estimated between six and eight days in the region of the back and between five and seven days in the pinna. The nymphal engorgement and changes occurred at approximately 10.80 +/- 2.65 days in the dorsal and 11.00 +/- 2.52 days in the ear, with the engorgement of adults and copulation occurring at 7.03 +/- 2.45 days, on the dorsal region and 8.55 +/- 1.82 days in the region of the pinna. The parasitic period ranged from 21 to 29 days (back) and from 23 to 30 days (pinna). The engorged females of the back and ear weighed on average 34.43 +/- 18.73 and 36.30 +/- 18.10 mg, respectively. The nutritional and reproductive efficiency indexes were 17.38 +/- 14.27 and 26.85 +/- 17.13% (back) and 17.42 +/- 12.22% and 30.70 +/- 19.80% (pinna). Although not appropriate to maintain successive generations of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, rabbits can be used for different stages of engorgement of the ixodid, allowing experimental studies.