Microbiological control of ticks.

Twelve isolates (9 spore-forming bacteria and 3 fungi) were obtained from a dead adult tick (female) that had failed to lay eggs. There were different internal changes in the tick's eggs, caused by inoculation with these isolates. Such changes differed according to the type of microorganisms under study. However, fungi were more effective than spore-forming bacteria in decreasing hatching percentage of tick's eggs at 28 degrees C. Generally, inoculation with these isolates decreased the longevity of unfed larvae of ticks.