Paralysis of calves by the tick, Ixodes Holocyclus

Adult female Ixodes holocyclus were collected from the field at Fig Tree Pocket, a Brisbane suburb, at Tamborine Mountain, Queensland and at Lismore, New South Wales, in November 1974. Females were also reared from engorged nymphs collected off bandicoots from Tamborine Mountain July 1974 and 1975. In November 1974 unexposed 2-3 week old British breed calves, weighing between 26 and 46 kg were infested with 2,4,8 or 10 ticks. Neither 2 nor 4 females per calf caused paralysis. A challenge of 8 to 10 females induced paralysis 6 to 9 days after infestation by which time most ticks had engorged. There was little difference between ticks from different geographic localities. The site of attachment had no influence on tick toxicity. In September 1975, 2-3 week old British breed and Sahiwal x Jersey calves were infested with female ticks which had moulted 2-4 weeks prior to infestation. All but one calf with 10 ticks and all calves with 4 ticks became paralysed 8 to 13 days after infestation. At the time of paralysis only 1 of the 86 ticks had engorged and the remainder were small (30 to 50 mg). The greater toxicity of the latter ticks may have been due to the different treatment of ticks prior to infestation or to variations in the production of toxin associated with slow feeding. Four of 7 paralysed calves were saved using canine antitick serum.