A Technique Employing Embryonated Chicken Eggs for the Infection of Argasid Ticks with Coxiella Burnetii, Bacterium Tularense, Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Western Equine Encephalitis Virus

1. A technique for feeding argasid ticks of the genus Ornithodoros (0. moubata, 0. turicata, 0. parkeri, 0. hermsi) on the air-sac membrane of embryonated chicken eggs is reported. Several attempts to feed Argas ref exus by the same method failed. 2. The technique is also practical for testing argasid ticks for their ability toingest, to preserve, or to transmit disease agents that can be cultivated in eggs and also for research studies regarding the life cycle and behavior of such agents in ticks. 3. Infections of 0. moubata and 0. turicata with Coxiella burnetii, Bacterium tularense, Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae and western equine encephalitis virus by feeding on infected eggs were successfully accomplished. 4. In transmission studies, normal eggs were used to detect infections of relapsing fever spirochetes in 0. turicata and 0. parkeri ticks.