Observation of Live Ticks (Haemaphysalis flava) by Scanning Electron Microscopy under High Vacuum Pressure

Scanning electron microscopes (SEM), which image sample surfaces by scanning with an electron beam, are widely used for steric observations of resting samples in basic and applied biology. Various conventional methods exist for SEM sample preparation. However, conventional SEM is not a good tool to observe living organisms because of the associated exposure to high vacuum pressure and electron beam radiation. Here we attempted SEM observations of live ticks. During 1.5×10−3 Pa vacuum pressure and electron beam irradiation with accelerated voltages (2–5 kV), many ticks remained alive and moved their legs. After 30-min observation, we removed the ticks from the SEM stage; they could walk actively under atmospheric pressure. When we tested 20 ticks (8 female adults and 12 nymphs), they survived for two days after SEM observation. These results indicate the resistance of ticks against SEM observation. Our second survival test showed that the electron beam, not vacuum conditions, results in tick death. Moreover, we describe the reaction of their legs to electron beam exposure. These findings open the new possibility of SEM observation of living organisms and showed the resistance of living ticks to vacuum condition in SEM. These data also indicate, for the first time, the usefulness of tick as a model system for biology under extreme condition

Obecny stan badań nad roztoczami kurzu domowego [Pyroglyphidae] w Republice Czeskiej

Systematic research on house dust mites in the Czech Republic started in the early seventies, when mite fauna of human dwellings and distribution of pyroglyphid mites were studied. Special attention was paid to old-age pensioners' homes and children's sanatoria. Pyroglyphidae were found also in the city air and in the dust of city pavements, especially in localities with high occurrence of domestic pigeons. While D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae mostly occurred in permanently inhabited flats, Euroglyphus maynei prevailed in recreation houses and some hospitals. Autumn increase of population density occurred in both, D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae populations, however, the number of protonymphs was remarkable higher than that of other developmental stage in D. farinae population. Special rearing technique was developed for the mass-culture of mites and a Czechoslovak patent was assigned to the technology of allergen preparation for the diagnostics and the desensibilization of patients with house-dust allergies

Obecny stan badan nad roztoczami kurzu domowego [Pyroglyphidae] w Republice Czeskiej

Systematic research on house dust mites in the Czech Republic started in the early seventies, when mite fauna of human dwellings and distribution of pyroglyphid mites were studied. Special attention was paid to old-age pensioners' homes and children's sanatoria. Pyroglyphidae were found also in the city air and in the dust of city pavements, especially in localities with high occurrence of domestic pigeons. While D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae mostly occurred in permanently inhabited flats, Euroglyphus maynei prevailed in recreation houses and some hospitals. Autumn increase of population density occurred in both, D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae populations, however, the number of protonymphs was remarkable higher than that of other developmental stage in D. farinae population. Special rearing technique was developed for the mass-culture of mites and a Czechoslovak patent was assigned to the technology of allergen preparation for the diagnostics and the desensibilization of patients with house-dust allergies

Parasitic mites (Acarina) of Cuban bats (Chiroptera) from ecological and zoogeographical aspect

Faunę pasożytów nietoperzy kubańskich charakteryzuje częste występowanie przedstawicieli rzędu Acarina (78% zarażonych nietoperzy), mniej częste rzędów Pupipara i Hemiptera (24%) oraz nadzwyczaj rzadkie występowanie przedstawicieli Aphaniptera (tylko 0,4%). W związku z silnie zaznaczoną swoistością pasożytniczych roztoczy względem poszczególnych rodzin, rodzajów lub nawet gatunków nietoperzy fauna pasożytniczych Acarina, tak jak i fauna nietoperzy, są ściśle spokrewnione z fauną Antyli. Ta ostatnia jest z kolei ściśle związana z fauną Centralnej i Południowej Ameryki. Elementy fauny Północnej Ameryki wydają się odosobnione. Choć pewna ilość nietoperzy kubańskich należy do gatunków endemicznych, większość roztoczy nie przejawia wobec nich wyraźnie zaznaczonej swoistości. Roztocze są swoiste dla wszystkich podgatunków danego gatunku gospodarza (dla przykładu przedstawiciele rodziny Dermanyssidae Kol., 1859) lub dla wszystkich podrodzin danej rodziny (np. rodzina Spinturnicidae Oudms., 1901). Nieco inaczej wygląda to u przedstawicieli rodziny Myobiidae Megnin, 1877. Spośród tej rodziny aż 5 gatunków nowego, dotąd nie opisanego, rodzaju stwierdzono wyłącznie na Kubie. Jednak i w tym przypadku endemizmu pasożytów nie można uznać z całą pewnością, bowiem "rodzina Myobiidae nie jest w Centralnej i Południowej Ameryce wystarczająco dokładnie zbadana. O innych rodzinach w tym względzie nic nie wiadomo

Obecny stan badan nad kleszczami [Ixodoidea] w Republice Czeskiej

Tick research in the Czech Republic started developing rapidly after World War II and was directed to the faunistics and taxonomy, biology, ecology and behaviour, physiology and genetics, disease transmission, host-parasite relationships and control. Altogether 15 tick species were reported from the territory of the Czech Republic. Most studies in biology, ecology and virus transmission were dedicated to Ixodes ricinus, but biology and ecology of Dermacentor reticulatus, I. laguri and I. hexagonus were also studied. Many studies were done on argasid ticks, mostly on pheromonal communication of Argas persicus and immunology of feeding of A. polonicus. Population variability of both these species was also studied. The present research on ticks is mostly directed to study of interaction among hosts, ticks and pathogens on the humoral, cellular and molecular level