Tick Saliva Collection

Tick saliva contains a complex mixture of biologically active compounds that enable prolonged blood feeding by modulating host hemostasis, inflammation, and immune responses. In addition, saliva serves as a key interface for the transmission of tick-borne pathogens, with specific salivary molecules facilitating pathogen survival and host infection. Tick saliva may also contain glycosylated proteins bearing galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal), which have been implicated in the development of α-Gal allergy in humans, as well as neurotoxic components responsible for tick paralysis. Given the central role of tick saliva in tick feeding, pathogen transmission, and tick-associated allergic or toxic reactions, reliable methods for its collection are essential, and we here present a protocol for the collection of saliva from ticks.