Enhancing brown dog tick rearing (Rhipicephalus sanguineus): In vivo feeding using mice (Mus musculus) as blood sources

Ticks vector a large number of significant pathogens, yet remain understudied due to the challenges in laboratory colonization. This study introduces innovative techniques for rearing Rhipicephalus sanguineus, focusing on in vivo tick feeding using ICR mice (Mus musculus) as a blood source. The research, conducted at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research - Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (WRAIR-AFRIMS), outlines the successful utilization of mice to support all stages of tick development. Ticks were retained on mice using Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam capsules and cyclophosphamide was administered to the mice to prevent host immune response from interfering with tick feeding. These methods allowed the successful establishment and mass production of R. sanguineus tick colonies. The methods described herein hold promise for institutions seeking efficient tick production using a rodent model.