Location: Animal Disease Research Unit
Project Number: 2090-32000-040-062-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 1, 2026
End Date: Jun 30, 2027
Objective:
Developing the in vitro tick feeding for multiple tick stages and assessing tick engorgement, oviposition, hatchability, and larva-to-adult
development.
Approach:
Calves will be vaccinated with recombinant proteins. Samples from the vaccinated and control groups will be used to feed ticks and to analyze the effect on feeding, reproduction, and development. The in vitro tick feeding system will be used to feed ticks. This feeding system will be used along with standard methods for assessing tick feeding engorgement, oviposition, egg hatching, and larval development. Furthermore, the vaccine's impact on larval development will be evaluated by assessing larval feeding, the percentage of larvae that molt into nymphs, and the time taken for larva-to-adult development.