Age grades and infection rates of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae) to assess theileriosis challenge in the field

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Abstract
Data are presented from five series of 240 adults of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann kept in the laboratory, in which a steady decline in the numbers of granules in e cells of type 3 acini of the salivary glands occurred. This was readily detected in whole gland preparations of the salivary glands stained with methyl green and pyronin, and the same specimens could be used for detecting Theileria parasites in the salivary glands. Characteristics for grading these ticks into three physiological age grades are given, and a formula is provided for incorporating the age grade with infection rate. This gives a value for comparative estimates of the challenge posed by field populations of ticks for the transmission of Theileria to cattle.