Effects of infection of the tick Ornithodoros moubata with African swine fever virus

The effects of infection with African swine fever virus (ASFV) on adult and nymphal Ornithodoros moubata Murray (Ixodoidea, Argasidae) ticks were exam ined. Three groups of ticks were used, an uninfected control group, one gro up infected with the VIC T90/1 isolate of ASFV and another group infected w ith the LIV 13/33 isolate of ASFV. Infection with ASFV did not affect the o viposition rates of infected ticks when compared with uninfected ticks. The re was no difference between infected and uninfected ticks in progeny hatch ing rates and first nymphal stage feeding rates. Feeding rates of infected adult ticks were also unaffected. However, a significant increase in mortal ity rates was observed amongst the adult ticks that fed on an infective blo odmeal compared to ticks fed on an unifected bloodmeal.