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Ixodid ticks feed for extended periods of up to 2 weeks or more. To complete engorgement, they must overcome their host's innate immune mechanisms of which the complement system is a major component. Using in vitro assays, salivary gland extracts of the ixodid ticks, Ixodes ricinus, I. hexagonus, and I. uriae, were shown to inhibit activity of the alternative pathway of complement. The ability of the different Ixodes species to inhibit complement activity varied with the animal species used as a complement serum source. Serum species sensitivity correlates to the reported host range of the tick species tested.

Original publication

DOI

10.1006/expr.1999.4456

Type

Journal article

Journal

Exp Parasitol

Publication Date

12/1999

Volume

93

Pages

207 - 214

Keywords

Animals, Arachnid Vectors, Birds, Chromatography, Affinity, Columbidae, Complement Pathway, Alternative, Complement System Proteins, Deer, Dogs, Female, Guinea Pigs, Hedgehogs, Hemolysis, Host-Parasite Interactions, Humans, Immune Sera, Ixodes, Male, Saliva, Species Specificity