The maintenance of the argasid tick Ornithodoros moubata (Murray) on embryonated hen eggs

A laboratory colony of O. moubata was maintained entirely by feeding on the exposed membranes of embryonated hen eggs at the 17-19th day stage of incubation at 37 degrees C. There was no loss of either vigour or fecundity. The method gave markedly superior results to those obtained by feeding on rabbits, rats, mice and guinea-pigs. More convenient and economical than any alternative, the method has valuable advantages in its applicability to a wide range of pathogens.