Table 2

Weight, oviposition and hatching of replete R. microplus female ticks after RNAi.

Experimental group
Tick weight (mg)a
Eggs per tick (mg)b
Hatching rate (%)c
Expression silencing (%)d

Saline control
318 (272–367)
173 (128–229)
> 90
---
GI
318 (260–369)
123 (31–175)
> 90
55 ± 8**
GII
315 (267–349)
132 (95–182)
0.2*
84 ± 5**
Subolesin
318 (270–360)
142 (101–175)
0.4*
46 ± 8**

aReplete R. microplus ticks were collected and weighed individually before injection with dsRNA, all within 6 hours after dropping of the host. The average weight and variation (between parentheses) of each group are shown. No significant statistical differences were observed (P > 0.05).

bThe egg mass oviposited by each tick was weighed individually. The average egg mass and variation (between parentheses) was calculated and compared with the saline-injected control ticks by Student's t-test with unequal variance. No significant statistical differences were observed (P > 0.05).

cThe hatching rate was determined 6 weeks post oviposition and compared with the saline-injected control ticks by Student's t-test with unequal variance (*P < 0.01).

dThe expression silencing of target genes was determined in eggs by real-time RT-PCR and average ± S.D. mRNA levels calculated and compared between dsRNA and saline-injected control ticks by Student's t-test with unequal variance (**P < 0.05). Amplification efficiencies were normalized against β-actin.

de la Fuente et al. BMC Genomics 2008 9:372   doi:10.1186/1471-2164-9-372