EFFECT OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST BETA-N-ACETYLHEXOSAMINIDASE ON REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY OF THE BOVINE TICK BOOPHILUS-MICROPLUS

A polyclonal antibody (anti-HEX) was developed against a soluble N-ace tylhexosaminidase (HEX) isolated from larval extracts of Boophilus mic roplus. Purified hexosaminidase was strongly inhibited by the Ige frac tion of this antibody. The antibody inhibited the hexosaminidase activ ity of other sources, such as haemolymph and larval membranes. The ant ibody reacted with different antigens in the tick haemolymph, but did not recognize any antigen in saliva, as seen by immunoblot analysis. T he anti-HEX was inoculated into fully engorged B. microplus females, r esulting in a decrease in oviposition of approximately 26%, relative t o the effect of pre-immune IgG. These data show the potential of the u se of this tick enzyme as an antigen in vaccine development. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.