African swine fever virus infection in the soft tick, Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) puertoricensis (Acari: Argasidae). 1992

R G Endris, and T M Haslett, and W R Hess
Plum Island Animal Disease Center, USDA-ARS-NAA, Greenport, NY 11944-0848.

In total, 1,186 second instar Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) puertoricensis Fox second instars were fed on a pig when it had a viremia of 10(5.2) hemadsorption units (HAd50/ml) and 420 second-instar O. puertoricensis were fed on an uninfected pig. Subsequent blood meals for ticks in both groups were from uninfected pigs. The effects of African swine fever virus (ASFV) infection on O. puertoricensis populations were evaluated for the following parameters: mortality; mean time to death; percentage molted per instar; percentage molted to male, female, or subsequent instar; effects on duration of premolt period; and the number of blood meals per instar. The cumulative virus-induced mortality rate for all immature stages (second to fifth instar) of O. puertoricensis that had been fed as second instars on a pig infected with ASFV was 43.2%. In contrast, 23.1% mortality was observed among ticks fed on uninfected pigs. The mortality rate among third instars that fed on the viremic pig was 55.3% versus 4.8% among nymphs fed on normal pigs. One-third to more than one-half of all third, fourth, and fifth instars required at least two blood meals to molt. Mean premolt periods for second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth instars fed on uninfected pigs were approximately 12, 15, 32, 22, and 14 d, respectively. Mean weights for unfed second to fifth instars, males, and females were: 0.6, 1.0, 1.5, 1.7, 1.5, and 3.1 mg per tick, respectively.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007814 Larva Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals. Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D008297 Male Males
D004197 Disease Reservoirs Animate or inanimate sources which normally harbor disease-causing organisms and thus serve as potential sources of disease outbreaks. Reservoirs are distinguished from vectors (DISEASE VECTORS) and carriers, which are agents of disease transmission rather than continuing sources of potential disease outbreaks. Humans may serve both as disease reservoirs and carriers. Disease Reservoir,Human Disease Reservoirs,Infectious Disease Reservoir,Reservoirs of Infection,Infectious Disease Reservoirs,Disease Reservoir, Human,Disease Reservoir, Infectious,Disease Reservoirs, Human,Human Disease Reservoir,Infection Reservoir,Infection Reservoirs,Reservoir, Disease,Reservoir, Infectious Disease,Reservoirs, Human Disease
D005260 Female Females
D000357 African Swine Fever A sometimes fatal ASFIVIRUS infection of pigs, characterized by fever, cough, diarrhea, hemorrhagic lymph nodes, and edema of the gallbladder. It is transmitted between domestic swine by direct contact, ingestion of infected meat, or fomites, or mechanically by biting flies or soft ticks (genus Ornithodoros). Swine Fever, African,African Swine Fever Virus Infection,Asfivirus Infection,Wart-Hog Disease,Asfivirus Infections,Infection, Asfivirus,Infections, Asfivirus,Wart Hog Disease,Wart-Hog Diseases
D000358 African Swine Fever Virus The lone species of the genus Asfivirus. It infects domestic and wild pigs, warthogs, and bushpigs. Disease is endemic in domestic swine in many African countries and Sardinia. Soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros are also infected and act as vectors. Wart-Hog Disease Virus,Virus, Wart-Hog Disease,Wart Hog Disease Virus
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001096 Arachnid Vectors Members of the class Arachnida, especially SPIDERS; SCORPIONS; MITES; and TICKS; which transmit infective organisms from one host to another or from an inanimate reservoir to an animate host. Arachnid Vector,Vector, Arachnid,Vectors, Arachnid
D013552 Swine Any of various animals that constitute the family Suidae and comprise stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammals with thick skin, usually covered with coarse bristles, a rather long mobile snout, and small tail. Included are the genera Babyrousa, Phacochoerus (wart hogs), and Sus, the latter containing the domestic pig (see SUS SCROFA). Phacochoerus,Pigs,Suidae,Warthogs,Wart Hogs,Hog, Wart,Hogs, Wart,Wart Hog
D013987 Ticks Blood-sucking acarid parasites of the order Ixodida comprising two families: the softbacked ticks (ARGASIDAE) and hardbacked ticks (IXODIDAE). Ticks are larger than their relatives, the MITES. They penetrate the skin of their host by means of highly specialized, hooked mouth parts and feed on its blood. Ticks attack all groups of terrestrial vertebrates. In humans they are responsible for many TICK-BORNE DISEASES, including the transmission of ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER; TULAREMIA; BABESIOSIS; AFRICAN SWINE FEVER; and RELAPSING FEVER. (From Barnes, Invertebrate Zoology, 5th ed, pp543-44) Ixodida,Ixodidas,Tick

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