Feeding patterns of immature stages of Hyalomma truncatum and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes on different hosts.

In this study we examine the feeding patterns of immature stages of Hyalomma truncatum and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes ticks on different hosts. Larvae of H. truncatum developed through a three-host pattern on two species of field mice, Rhabdomys pumilio and Lemniscomys rosalia. On guinea-pigs, both Hyalomma species followed a mixed two-host and three-host pattern, with the latter route being preferred, since more than 70% of the fully fed larvae dropped off from their hosts. H. truncatum was a two-host tick on rabbits. Larvae of H. marginatum rufipes did not prefer R. pumilio and L. rosalia as hosts. On guinea-pigs, H. marginatum rufipes immatures showed a mixed two-host and three-host pattern with a bias towards the three-host life cycle, since approximately 58% of the fully fed larvae dropped off. On rabbits, H. marginatum rufipes was exclusively a two-host tick. Mean engorgement weights and blood quantities ingested by H. truncatum nymphs that developed through a three-host pattern on mice were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than for those that developed through a two-host pattern on guinea-pigs and rabbits. For H. marginatum rufipes, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between engorgement weights of nymphs that developed through two-host and three-host patterns. However, there were significant differences (p < 0.0001) in blood quantities ingested by nymphs of this tick species following feeding on different hosts.