Experimental Infection of Dermacentor Andersoni Stiles with the Virus of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis

Abstract

Exptl. infection of all stages in the life cycle of the Rocky Mountain wood tick with the virus of lymphocytic choriomeningitis has been demonstrated. Stage-to-stage transmission of the virus from larvae to nymphs, nymphs to adults, and generation to generation transmission from adults to eggs and larvae have also been demonstrated. Attempts to transmit the infection by feeding adults on normal animals after previously feeding them in either their nyrnphal or adult stages on infected guinea-pigs were uniformly negative. Infection has been transmitted, however, by feeding nymphs which had engorged in their larval stage on an infected guinea-pig. Infection has also been transmitted by applying infected crushed ticks or feces from ticks which had engorged in their previous stage upon infected animals to the scarified skin of guinea-pigs.