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Sensitivity of Ixodes ricinus (L., 1758) and Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabr., 1794) ticks to Bacillus thuringiensis isolates: preliminary study

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Abstract

Bacillus thuringiensis is a highly specific entomopathogenic microorganism. Although defined as having properties which work against insects, its role in the control of tick populations is still insufficiently known. In our bioassay, four environmental strains of B. thuringiensis, along with one commercially available product (Vectobac), have been used against ticks. Vectobac turned out to be ineffective in the biocontrol of ticks; however, two of environmental B. thuringiensis strains proved to be efficient against both Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus. In those cases, the mortality rate for ticks was assessed as being up to 80%, and LC50 ranged between 9.1 × 106 and 1.3 × 1015 (cfu/ml). Dermacentor reticulatus males were the most sensitive to bacteria. The similarity between the most and least efficient B. thuringiensis strains in enzymatic profiles—including lipases, phosphatases, proteases, and chitinases—may indicate a limited role of detected enzymes in the pathogenicity profile of bacterial strains against ticks.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to dedicate this article to our mentor, Professor Elżbieta Lonc, who passed away in March 2017. Without her great experience and knowledge, the bioassays of Bacillus thuringiensis would never have been carried out. We would like to express gratitude for the advantage of working with such a person, who always supported us and provided new ideas for solving problems.

Funding

The chitinase assay was financed by the University of Wroclaw (grant number 0420/2308/17).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbial Ecology and Environmental Protection, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego str. 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland

    Anna Szczepańska & Dorota Kiewra

  2. Department of Microbiology, IGM University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego str. 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland

    Katarzyna Guz-Regner

Authors
  1. Anna Szczepańska
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  2. Dorota Kiewra
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  3. Katarzyna Guz-Regner
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Correspondence to Anna Szczepańska.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Section Editor: Neil Bruce Chilton

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Szczepańska, A., Kiewra, D. & Guz-Regner, K. Sensitivity of Ixodes ricinus (L., 1758) and Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabr., 1794) ticks to Bacillus thuringiensis isolates: preliminary study. Parasitol Res 117, 3897–3902 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-6096-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-6096-z

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