Effect of Haemaphysalis punctata infestation on growing lambs and rabbits

Lambs infected with adult Haemaphysalis punctata and rabbits infected with nymphs developed a macrocytic normochromic anaemia during seven and six successive infestations, respectively. The anaemia was directly proportional to the degree of infestation but disappeared several days after the termination of infestation. A leucocytosis, due to neutrophilia, was seen in both lambs and rabbits. Rabbits developed a thrombocytosis and reticulocytosis. Infested lambs grew less rapidly than uninfested animals. Signs of tick toxicosis and several other clinical manifestations appeared in both infested sheep and rabbits. Circulating antibodies against salivary antigen of adult H punctata were demonstrated in the sera of infested lambs by the micro-ELISA test. Titres were first detected on day 3 after infestation and increased gradually as infestation progressed. No precipitating antibodies in either infested sheep or rabbits were detected.