Immunization of rabbits and camels against Hyalomma dromedarii ticks using whole adult tick antigen [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Ten rabbits of 2 months old. as well as ten young camels aged between 8-10 months old were used to evaluate the immunizing effects of whole adult Hyalomma dromedarii antigen under laboratory and field cOl)ditions. A vaccine was prepared from male and female of such ticks, used for vaccination ofrabbits and camels. Animals within each species wefe allocated into two groups each consisting of five animals. The first experiment was done under laboratory conditions in which five rabbits administered with two immunization, the first one was given subcutaneously at the beginning ofthe experiment and the second was given 12 days later. At the same time, rabbits of control group were injected with phosphate buffer saline (PBS) plus adjuvant. All rabbits in the two groups were challenged with starved adult tick Hyalomma dromedari; 7 days after the second injection. The second experiment was done under field conditions where five young apparently healthy camels given two immunization. the first was administered subcutaneously at the beginmng of the experiment and the second dose was injected three weeks later. At the same time anotht'r five appearently healthy young camels were injected with PBS plus adjuvant. Ine results in the tirst experiment revealed that there was reduction in number and weight of ticks that fed on all immunized rabbits. Also the number of oviposit female ticks. number of eggs laid per tick and the percentage of egg laid per tick and the percentage of egg hatchability were reduced. Concerning the results of the second experiment, it was noticed that the vaccination of animals resulted in 40.04%, 76.91% and 85.56% reduction in mean values of tick weight, oviposition and egg hatchability. respectively.

Summary in Arabic.

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