Source: OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
CENTRALIZED TICK REARING
 
PROJECT DIRECTOR: Mulder, P.
 
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
ENTOMOLOGY & PLANT PATHOLOGY
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
STILLWATER,OK 74078
 
NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Tick researchers at Oklahoma State University and throughout the United States require quantities of healthy pathogen free ticks for use in studies on tick biology, physiology, molecular genetics, tick transmitted diseases and the development of novel control strategies for ticks. The OSU Tick Rearing Laboratory rears six species of ticks, ensuring that quantities of larvae, nymphs, or adults of each species are available for tick research purposes. Research continues at the laboratory to improve tick rearing and storage procedures.
 
OBJECTIVES: A. Modify and streamline the rearing techniques and develop the optimum storage conditions for all life stages of five tick species currently reared at the Tick Rearing Laboratory including Amblyomma americanum, A. maculatum, Dermacentor variabilis, D. andersonii and Rhiphicephalus sanquineus. B. Perfect the rearing technique for Ixodes scapularis to increase the rearing capacity by manipulating the environmental conditions under which each stage is reared or maintained between blood meals. C. Determine the role of rangeland cattle in the population dynamics of adult Ixodes scapularis in North Central Oklahoma.
 
APPROACH: Scientists at Oklahoma State University are national and international leaders in tick research. Much of the research conducted by these scientists requires quantities of all stages of several species of ticks, including the lone star tick, Gulf Coast tick, American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, brown dog tick and the blacklegged tick. The Tick Rearing Laboratory maintains colonies of these six species of ticks specifically for use in research projects. These ticks are extensively used by OSU researchers and tick researchers throughout the United States. Research continues at the Tick Rearing Laboratory to improve rearing techniques for each species in order to have a constant supply of healthy pathogen free ticks available for tick researchers. A limited amount of research is conducted to determine if domestic livestock are a major host of adult black-legged ticks.
 
CRIS NUMBER: 0160810 SUBFILE: CRIS
PROJECT NUMBER: OKL02172 SPONSOR AGENCY: NIFA
PROJECT TYPE: ANIMAL HEALTH PROJECT STATUS: TERMINATED MULTI-STATE PROJECT NUMBER: (N/A)
START DATE: Oct 1, 2003 TERMINATION DATE: Sep 30, 2009

GRANT PROGRAM: (N/A)
GRANT PROGRAM AREA: (N/A)

CLASSIFICATION
Knowledge Area (KA)Subject (S)Science (F)Objective (G)Percent
312312011304.2100%

CLASSIFICATION HEADINGS
KA312 - External Parasites and Pests of Animals
S3120 - Spiders, mites, ticks, and other arthropods
F1130 - Entomology and acarology
G4.2 - Reduce Number and Severity of Pest and Disease Outbreaks


RESEARCH EFFORT CATEGORIES
BASIC (N/A)%
APPLIED 100%
DEVELOPMENTAL (N/A)%

KEYWORDS: dermacentor andersoni; amblyomma maculatum; amblyomma americanum; ixodes scapularis; insect rearing; ixodidae; rhipicephalus; process development; external parasites; storage conditions; life cycle; dermacentor variabilis; range livestock; blood; population dynamics; insect population; adults; larvae; laboratories; parasitology; hosts; insect biology; molecular genetics; disease vectors; disease transmission; nymphs

PROGRESS: Oct 1, 2007 TO Sep 30, 2008
OUTPUTS: A total of 183,423 ticks were dispersed from the OSU tick rearing facility for research purposes. Eight separate research units at OSU used 12,415 ticks, and 171,008 ticks were dispersed to 71 research units external to OSU. These units include federal laboratories, university laboratories, and many private laboratories that request ticks for use in research and educational projects. Approximately 94% of ticks dispersed were adult ticks, 5% were nymphal ticks, and the remaining 1% were engorged females or larval masses. The demand for Ixodes scapularis continues to rise, and 21,555 adult I. scapularis were dispersed. Efforts to increase production of I.scapularis continue. Research to rear the larval stages of all 6 colony species on sheep has shown limited success. Three species do not respond well to feeding on sheep, and do not return the volume of engorged larval required to meet the current demands of the tick facility. Rabbits are used to rear large quantities of these 3 tick species. Research efforts will continue to determine the most effective larval rearing techniques in order to provide the volume of ticks requested by researchers. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

IMPACT: 2007-10-01 TO 2008-09-30 The OSU Tick Rearing Facility provides ticks for research projects at Oklahoma State University and throughout the United States. The Tick Rearing Facility is often cited as the source of ticks in research proposals and is the main source of ticks for many research units in the United States.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 2007-10-01 TO 2008-09-30
No publications reported this period

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: Mulder, P.
PHONE: 405-744-9396
FAX: 405-744-6039