Effect of antibodies against beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase on reproductive efficiency of the bovine tick Boophilus microplus.

A polyclonal antibody (anti-HEX) was developed against a soluble N-acetylhexosaminidase (HEX) isolated from larval extracts of Boophilus microplus. Purified hexosaminidase was strongly inhibited by the IgG fraction of this antibody. The antibody inhibited the hexosaminidase activity of other sources, such as haemolymph and larval membranes. The antibody reacted with different antigens in the tick haemolymph, but did not recognize any antigen in saliva, as seen by immunoblot analysis. The anti-HEX was inoculated into fully engorged B. microplus females, resulting in a decrease in oviposition of approximately 26%, relative to the effect of pre-immune IgG. These data show the potential of the use of this tick enzyme as an antigen in vaccine development.