RESUMO
Artificial feeding is an important toll for studying ticks feeding mechanism and transmission of pathogenic agents in the absence of vertebrate host. The objective was to feed artificially of engorged partially females of Dermacentor (Anocentor) nitens, proceeding of infested naturally equines and evaluate the influence of this technique on biological parameters of species. Engorged partially females were collected, weighted and separate by weight in two range of 40 to 60 milligrams and 61 to 100 milligrams. Each range was further sorted in four groups with homogeneous weight which were fed for 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours through capillaries tubes containing citrated bovine blood. It was observed that artificial feeding promoted increase weight of females in both range and definitive times. The Ticks fed artificially for periods more drawn out, had presented parameters of the non-parasitic phase next to the observed ones in conditions to laboratory for this species. Females of D. (A.) nitens partially engorged ingested great volume of blood when submitted to artificial feeding through capillaries tubes, without any effect in their biological parameters.
