A novel approach to imaging engorged ticks: Micro-CT scanning of Ixodes ricinus fed on blood enriched with gold nanoparticles

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216305%3A26220%2F20%3APU137379" target="_blank" >RIV/00216305:26220/20:PU137379 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00027162:_____/21:N0000014 RIV/62157124:16810/21:43879655 RIV/62157124:16270/21:43879655

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X20304283" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X20304283</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101559" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101559</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

A novel approach to imaging engorged ticks: Micro-CT scanning of Ixodes ricinus fed on blood enriched with gold nanoparticles

Original language description

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is an exceptional imaging modality which is limited in visualizing soft biological tissues that need pre-examination contrasting steps, which can cause serious deformation to sizeable specimens like engorged ticks. The aim of this study was to develop a new technique to bypass these limitations and allow the imaging of fed ticks in their natural state. To accomplish this, adult Ixodes ricinus females were allowed to engorge in vitro on blood supplemented with PEGylated gold nanoparticles (PEG-AuNPs). In total, 73/120 females divided into 6 groups engorged on blood enriched with 0.07–2.16 mg PEG-AuNPs per ml of blood. No toxic effect was observed for any of the tested groups compared to the control group, in which 12/20 females engorged on clear blood. The ticks were scanned on a Bruker micro-CT SkyScan 1276. The mean radiodensity of the examined ticks exceeded 0 Hounsfield Units only in the case of the two groups with the highest concentration. The best contrast was observed in ticks engorged on blood with the highest tested concentration of 2.16 mg/mL PEG-AuNPs. In these ticks, the midgut and rectal sac were clearly visible. Also, the midgut lumen volume was computed from segmented image data. The reduction in midgut volume was documented during the egg development process. According to this pilot study, micro-CT of ticks engorged on blood supplemented with contrasting agents in vitro may reveal additional information regarding the engorged ticks’ anatomy.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

40301 - Veterinary science

Project

<a href="/en/project/EF15_003%2F0000495" target="_blank" >EF15_003/0000495: FIT (Pharmacology, Immunotherapy, nanoToxicology)</a><br>

Continuities

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2020

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

TICKS TICK-BORNE DIS

ISSN

1877-959X

e-ISSN

1877-9603

Volume of the periodical

12

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

DE - GERMANY

Number of pages

6

Pages from-to

1-6

UT code for WoS article

000599848100013

EID of the result in the Scopus database

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