Moulting mouthparts, imbibing blood: How does mouthpart musculature change across Ixodes scapularis life stages?

Sunday, November 10, 2024

8:16 AM – 8:28 AM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 226 C

Presenting Author(s)

KC

Kaylin Chong

Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Co-Author(s)

Isobel Ronai

Postdoctoral Fellow
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Adrian Richter (he/him/his)

JSPS International Postdoctoral Fellow
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Onna, Okinawa, Japan
AC

Alexandre Casadei Ferreira

Postdoctoral Fellow
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan
EE

Evan P. Economo

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan
BF

Brian Farrell

Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

The family Ixodidae, also known as hard ticks, are of great medical and veterinary importance as they cause numerous diseases for their hosts. These ticks have three obligate blood-feeding life stages: larva, nymph and adult where to moult to the next life stage, ticks will take a blood meal from a host that lasts 3-5 days for immatures and 7-12 days for adults. In this study, I characterize the mouthparts and musculature of larvae, nymphs, adult males and adult females of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). I. scapularis is a three-host tick, where each life stage feeds on a larger host. Using micro-computed tomography (microCT), I provide the first updated anatomical models for tick mouthparts and musculature. I then compare the relationship of tick body size to the mouthpart structures and how those changes over the course of development (ontogenetic allometry). I hypothesize across the life stages of I. scapularis there will be positive allometry in musculature:capitulum volume, correlating with the increase in their host size. In addition, I hypothesize as I. scapularis progresses through their lifecycle they require stronger muscles to pierce and cut the skin of larger hosts and stay adhered to their larger host. Understanding the structure and function of mouthparts across the life stages of I. scapularis will provide insights to aid in understanding how pathogens are transmitted to their different hosts.