Rearing of ticks on rabbits for the biological transmission of .

Background And Aim: is an obligate intraerythrocytic rickettsial parasite that infects cattle in tropical and subtropical regions. There is no evidence that inoculation can be used to culture in rabbits. This study aimed to determine the molting of s larvae, nymphs, and adults on rabbits as well as nymphs and adults of on calves with or without . Transstadial, horizontal, and transovarial transmissions of in reared on rabbits and calves were evaluated.

Materials And Methods: Engorged female ticks were collected from field samples of -infected and non-infected cattle. We divided the eight rabbits into two groups: A and B. Group A rabbits were infected with through parenteral inoculation, whereas Group B rabbits were kept as a control. The "clean rabbits" in Group B were observed for tick rearing without . Polymerase chain reaction was used to screen in rabbits and stages of tick. The complete life cycle of with or without was observed on rabbits.

Results: A 6.5-day longer life cycle was observed in ticks harboring than in ticks without . To observe transstadial transmission, transstadial, horizontal, and transovarial transmissions of in ticks were experimentally observed in one clean calf fed separately with infected nymphs and female adult ticks.

Conclusion: We experimentally observed transovarian, transstadial, and transovarial transmission of in ticks as a biological vector reared on calves and rabbits. We used rabbits as a model animal for rearing ticks and culture of .