The Action of Tick Extracts on Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis

Summary

Anticoagulant activity was found in the salivary glands, gut, eggs and coxal fluid of the tick O. moubata. The activity is due to antithrombin action in all 4 sources. A second anticoagulant was found in the salivary glands only, this was shown to have anti-factor IX action and is the first reported instance of such an activity extracted from a natural source.

Fibrinolytic activity was found to be present in the gut, uterus, eggs and coxal fluid of O. moubata. This activity was shown to be a plasminogen activator which does not require a pro-activator and some of its physical characteristics were determined.

Eggs of the tick D. andersoni were shown to have both antithrombin and plasminogen activator activity, but it was not possible to carry out detailed investigations on this material.

• References

• 1 Albrechtsen O. K. Fibrinolytic activity of human tissues. Brit. J. Haemat. 03: 284 1957;
• 2 Astrup T, Mullertz S. The fibrin plate method for estimating fibrinolytic activity. Arch. Biochem. 40: 346 1952;
• 3 Bier O. G. Action anticoagulante et fibrinolytique de l’extrait des glandes salivaires d’une Chauve-Souris hematophage (Desmodus rufus). C.R. Soc. Biol. 10: 129 1929;
• 4 Biggs R, MacFarlane R. G. Human Blood Coagulation and its Disorders. 3rd Edit.. 221 Blackwell Scientific Publications; Oxford: 1962
• 5 Cornwall J. W, Patton W. S. Some observations on the salivary secretion of the commoner blood-sucking insects and ticks. Ind. J. Med. Res. 02: 569 1914;
• 6 Gowdry E. V, Danks W. B. C. Studies on East Coast Fever II. Behaviour of the parasite and the development of distinctive lesions in susceptible animals. Parasitology 25: 1 1933;
• 7 Gregson J. D. Mon. Rep. Can. Div. Ent. June. 6 Kamloops, B.C; Canada: 1955
• 8 Hawkey G. Plasminogen activator in saliva of the Vampire Bat Desmodus rotundus. Nature (Lond) 211: 434 1966;
• 9 Hawkins R. I. Factors affecting blood clotting from salivary glands and crop of Glossina austeni. Nature (Lond) 212: 738 1966;
• 10 Hawkins R. I, Hellmann K. Investigations on a plasminogen activator in two bloodsuckers, Rhodnius prolixus Stâl & Hirudo medicinalis. Brit. J. Haemat. 12: 86 (1966a).
• 11 Hawkins R. I, Hellmann K. Factors affecting blood clotting from the tick Ornithodorus moubata. J. Physiol. 185: 70P 1966;
• 12 Hellmann K, Hawkins R. I. Anticoagulant & fibrinolytic activities from Rhodnius prolixus Stâl. Nature (Lond) 201: 1008 1964;
• 13 Hellmann K, Hawkins R. I. Prolixin-S and Prolixin-G; Two anticoagulants from Rhodnius prolixus Stâl. Nature (Lond) 207: 265 1965;
• 14 Hellmann K, Hawkins R. I. An antithrombin (Maculatin) and a plasminogen activator extractable from the blood-sucking Hemipteran Eutriatoma maculatus. Brit. J. Haemat. 12: 376 1966;
• 15 Jobling B. A contribution to the biology of Ornithodorus moubata Murray. Bull. Ent. Res. 15: 271 1924;
• 16 Jucci Di G. Sul potere anticoagulante dell’estratto di zecche e di uova di zecche (Ripi- cephalus). Boll. Soc. Ital. Biol. Sperim. 02: 24 1927;
• 17 Lassen M. Heat dénaturation in the fibrin plate method. Acta physiol, scand. 27: 371 1953;
• 18 Margolis J. The kaolin clotting time. A rapid one-stage method for diagnosis of coagulation defects. J. clin. Path. 11: 406 1958;
• 19 Markwardt F, Landmann H. Über einen Hemmstoff der Thrombokinase aus der Lederzecke Ornithodorus moubata. Naturwissenschaften 48: 433 1961;
• 20 Nuttall G. M. F, Strickland G. On the presence of an anticoagulin in the salivary glands and intestines of Argas persicus. Parasitology 01: 302 1908;
• 21 Sabbatani L. Fermento anticoagulante dell’Ixodes ricinus. Giorn. Accad. Med. Torino. 4s IV: 380 1898;
• 22 Sgouris J. T, Inman J. K, McCall K. B, Anderson H. D. The evaluation of “fibrinolytic” preparations. Vox Sang. (Basel) 06: 53 1961;