Immunization of rabbits against Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum tick using antigens derived from whole tick and gut extract

This study was conducted in three phases for identification of protective antigens in Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum that can induce the best protection in the sheep and cattle. In the first phase of study, H. anatolicum anatolicum was cultured for preparing enough antigens. Then, four antigenic preparation, viz, whole tick supernatant antigen (WTSA), whole tick pellet antigen (WTPA), gut supernatant antigen (GSA) and gut pellet antigen (GPA) were made partially fed adult female H. anatolicum anatolicum. Four groups of five rabbits were immunized with the antigens in Freund’s adjuvant emulsion and a fifth group was kept as control. The rabbits were challenge with ten pairs of homologus ticks and characteristic representing tick feeding and fertility were recorded and compared between groups. A significant decrease in percent of engorgement, index feeding, percent of oviposited, weight of egg and index fertility were observed in GSA immunized rabbits.