New artificial feeding technique for experimental infection of Argas ticks (Acari: Argasidae).

An artificial feeding technique using fetal bovine serum as a food source was established for the demonstration of West Nile virus transmission by Argas ticks in susceptibility studies. Fetal bovine serum does not coagulate and is free from contaminating microorganisms, antibodies, and anticoagulants, which are all known to reduce virus titers. This technique also compensates for the lack of suitable laboratory hosts as well as problems associated with disease agents, such as viruses that may not produce illness or antibodies after virus exposures.