Cutaneous hypersensitivity responses to Rhipicephalus tick larval antigens in pre-sensitized cattle

Nguni cattle are known to be more resistant to ticks than Bonsmara cattle, even if the immunological mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon are not fully understood. Cutaneous hypersensitivity responses to unfed larval extracts (ULE) of the ticks Rhipicephalus decoloratus and Rhipicephalus microplus were investigated in Nguni and Bonsmara cattle to improve knowledge on the immunity to ticks. Hypersensitivity reactions were induced by intradermal inoculation of 0.1 ml of ULE of R. decoloratus and R. microplus ticks (50 μg protein) in the right and left ear, respectively, of 8–9-month-old Nguni (n = 11) and Bonsmara (n = 9) heifers. Ear thickness was measured using callipers before and 0.5, 1, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h post inoculation (PI). Bonsmara cattle showed a more intense immediate reaction with maximum response at 1 h PI and no delayed hypersensitivity reaction. Nguni heifers, conversely, presented a less intense immediate reaction with maximum response at 1 h PI, and a delayed hypersensitivity reaction at 72 h PI. Reactions to R. decoloratus ULE produced a more intense skin response than to R. microplus in both breeds at all time intervals. Nguni cattle showed lower tick infestation indicating higher tick resistance than Bonsmara cattle. Delayed hypersensitivity reaction could be associated with superior tick resistance in the Nguni breed, while immediate hypersensitivity reaction could be associated with increased tick susceptibility in the Bonsmara breed. This study indicates the need for further investigations on the correlation of tick resistance and cellular immune responses to tick infestation in Nguni cattle.