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US 5,849,262 AGranted
Bioassay system for arthropods which elastically attaches to an animal
AssigneeHeska Corporation
InventorsRex E. Thomas, Lynda Wallenfels, Irene Popiel
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AssigneeHeska Corporation
InventorsRex E. Thomas, Lynda Wallenfels, Irene Popiel
Estimating the term…
The present invention is directed to a bioassay system for retaining hematophagous arthropods, such as, but not limited to, fleas, ticks and flies, in a microenvironment which mimics the natural conditions of unconfined hematophagous arthropods feeding on an animal. The bioassay system of the present invention comprises a container and an attachment means capable of maintaining hematophagous arthropods under conditions such that the fecundity of the retained hematophagous arthropods is substantially equivalent to the fecundity of unconfined hematophagous arthropods. The container is attached to an animal by an attachment means capable of immobilizing the container to the animal in such a manner that hematophagous arthropods can feed undisturbed from the animal through the container. In one embodiment, hematophagous arthropods are retained in a container comprising a retaining means penetrable by the mouth parts of hematophagous arthropods and a gas exchange means. The present invention also relates to the use of the bioassay system to identify agents capable of inhibiting hematophagous arthropod infestation. The bioassay system of the present invention can be part of a kit used to identify anti-hematophagous arthropod infestation agents.
A bioassay system for hematophagous arthropods, comprising at least one container that retains hematophagous arthropods and a means for elastically immobilizing said container to an animal in such a manner that hematophagous arthropods retained in said container can feed undisturbed on said animal through said container, wherein the fecundity of said retained hematophagous arthropods is at least substantially equivalent to the fecundity of hematophagous arthropods feeding freely on an animal.
A bioassay system for hematophagous arthropods, comprising:
A method for mimicking the natural conditions of hematophagous arthropods roaming free on an animal, comprising:
A bioassay system for fleas, comprising at least one container that retains fleas and flea eggs, and a means for elastically immobilizing said container to an animal in such a manner that fleas retained in said container can feed undisturbed on said animal through said container, wherein the fecundity of said retained fleas is at least substantially equivalent to the fecundity of fleas free-roaming on an animal.
A flea bioassay system comprising at least one container that retains flea and flea eggs, and a means for elastically immobilizing said container to an animal, wherein the fecundity of fleas retained in said container is at least about equivalent to the fecundity of free-roaming fleas for at least 14 days.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.