Possible applications of the immune response of laboratory mice to the feeding of argasid ticks.

Immunization of CD1 mice with various crude extracts of argasid tick parts in two different adjuvants induced high host IgGl antibody levels that could be detected in the hemolymph of recently fed argasid ticks. In the case of the fast feeding Ornithodoros turicata (Dugés), host immunization had no immediate effect on tick survival. In the case of the longer feeding species O. talaje (Gueín-Meneville), it induced a significant (P less than 0.05) 32% reduction in tick survival comparable to that of naturally acquired resistance.