The effect of various host species on the feeding performance of immature stages of the tick Hyalomma truncatum (Acari: Ixodidae)

In order to determine the effect of various hosts on the feeding performance of the tick Hyalomma truncatum, were used three mammalian species as hosts. Larvae and nymphs of H. truncatum were fed, under controlled laboratory conditions, on gerbils, guinea-pigs and rabbits. The larvae fed for 4.3 +/- 1.4 days on gerbils, 5.6 +/- 1.3 days on guinea-pigs and 4.7 +/- 1.2 days on rabbits. The mean weights of the larvae which fed in the rabbits, guinea-pigs and gerbils were 0.58 +/- 0.09, 0.46 +/- 0.04 and 0.45 +/- 0.04 mg, respectively. The feeding periods of the nymphs on gerbils, guinea-pigs and rabbits were 7.9 +/- 1.3 and 9.6 +/- 2.2 days respectively. The mean weights of the nymphs which fed on the gerbils, guinea-pigs and rabbits were 22.5 +/- 2.8, 19.7 +/- 1.3 and 15.8 +/- 1.4, respectively. Hyalomma truncatum demonstrated a life cycle of a three-host tick on gerbils and guinea-pigs and of a two-host tick on rabbits. The evolutionary advantage of a two-host cycle over a three-host cycle in metastriate ticks is discussed.