Feeding of Boophilus microplus larvae on a partially defined medium through thin slices of cattle skin

Larvae of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus will attach to thin (0-3--0-5 mm) slices of cattle skin and engorge on a partially defined medium at 35 degrees C. Forty-seven to 83 per cent of the larvae had engorged by 8 days, and 51--71 per cent of these moulted to nymphs. Tissue culture medium alone allowed little growth unless supplemented with dialysed, freeze dried bovine serum (7 per cent, w/v). This medium could be further difined by substituting purified bovine serum albumin (Cohn fraction V) for the dialysed bovine serum. In one experiment, nymphs of Haemaphysalis longicornis engorged and later moulted to adults. Skin slices were used fresh or after freeze-drying and storing at --25 degrees C. The possible uses of the culture method are discussed.