Reproduction in a Metastriata Tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract

The superfamily Ixodoidea includes two major families: the Ixodidae called "hard tick" and Argasidae called "soft tick". Furthermore, Ixodidae is classified into Prostriata (Ixodidae: Ixodes), and Metastriata (Ixodidae except for Ixodes) based on their reproductive strategies. That is, species in each group have characteristic reproductive organs and systems. Ticks are important as vectors of various pathogens. Haemaphysalis longicornis belonging to the Metastriata is characterized by having both the parthenogenetic and bisexual races, and is widely distributed in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, the Fiji Islands, Japan, the Korean Peninsula and northeastern areas of both China and Russia. This species is known as a vector of rickettsiae causing Q fever, viruses causing Russian spring-summer encephalitis, and protozoa causing theileriosis and babesiosis. H. longicornis, the most dominant tick in Japanese pastures, is very important in agricultural and veterinary sciences because this species also transmits piroplasmosis caused by Theileria and Babesia parasites among grazing cattle. We present here an overview reproduction in the bisexual race of H. longicornis.

Characterization and expression analysis of a newly identified glutathione S-transferase of the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis during blood-feeding

“…IFAT of the ovaries showed positive fluorescence in the ovarian wall and into the pedicels. This could be an indication of the mechanism protecting the ovaries of ticks from environmental chemicals that may be acquired through the genital aperture, which is connected to the ovary via the oviduct [ 26 , 43 ]. Also, signals in the pedicels of the ovary could reflect its role in the development of oocytes.…”

Characterization of microbiota diversity of field‐collected Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) with regard to sex and blood meals

“…Ticks are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites that feed on the blood of their hosts. Second only to mosquitoes as vectors of human pathogens, ticks can transmit many bacterial pathogens, protozoan parasites, and viruses . Ticks always attach to a host for a number of days during blood feeding, which provides ample opportunity to acquire and transfer pathogens between different hosts .…”

“…Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) was reported to transmit a wide variety of pathogens, including Babesia ovate , Anaplasma bovis , Theileria orientalis , Coxiella burnetii , Ehrlichia chaffeensis , and Rickettsia japonica ; and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus throughout China, Korea, and Japan . Despite the importance of H .…”

<p class="Body"><strong>Expression profiles of glutathione S-transferases genes in semi-engorged </strong><strong><em>Haemaphysalis longicornis</em></strong><strong> (Acari: Ixodidae) exposed to <em>Cymbopogon citratus</em> essential oil</strong></p>

“…It is regarded as major invasive livestock pest in New Zealand, parts of Australia, and several Pacific islands -including Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Western Samoa [7], and has been expanded rapidly in United States since its first founding on a nonimported domestic sheep in New Jersey [8]. H. longicornis is known as vectors of rickettsiae causing Q fever, viruses causing Russian spring-summer encephalitis, and protozoa causing theileriosis and babesiosis, respectively [9], and consequently, responsible for huge economic loss experienced by livestock producers [10]. Recently, H. longicornis has been implicated as the vector and reservoir of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus which causes a new type of hemorrhagic fever in East Asia [11].…”