Experimental infestation of llamas (Lama glama) with Boophilus microplus (Acari : Ixodidae)

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology Vol. 24; no. 8; pp. 661 - 664
• Main Authors: AGUIRRE, D. H, CAFRUNE, M. M, GUGLIELMONE, A. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.01.2000; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Boophilus microplus; Camelids, New World - parasitology; Female; Infectious diseases; Ixodidae; Lama glama; Larvae; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Parasitic diseases; Tick Infestations - veterinary; Ticks; South America; Argentina; America; Parasitiformes; Experimental study; Arachnida; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Acari; Ixodida; Arthropoda; Domestic animal; Boophilus microplus; Artiodactyla; Ectoparasite; Invertebrata; Infestation; Ixodidae; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1026563026922

Two llamas (Lama glama) were infested with approximately 20,000 Boophilus microplus larvae each and maintained under controlled conditions to collect the detached adult ticks. A total of 72 engorged and semi-engorged females were recovered with a mean weight of 163.0 +/- 70.6 mg. Sixty-three (87.5%) of these ticks oviposited and 60 (95.2%) of the egg masses produced larvae. Six of the heaviest females laid 18,838 eggs from which 16,545 (87.8%) hatched. These results show that llamas are able to maintain a population of B. microplus under experimental conditions. Further studies are required to determine the role of llamas as alternative hosts for B. microplus under field conditions.