Neutrophils: their role in the formation of a tick feeding lesion.

Dogs infested with adtult Rhipicephalus sanguineus were given nitrogen mustard to reduce leukocyte numbers. In the treated animals the tick lesions were insignificant, lacking the collagen destruiction found in untreated hosts, bitt the ticks engorged normally. Feeding results from tick secretions causing vascitlar trauima and is independent of tissute damage associated with inflammatory responses.