International Journal of Entomology Research

Authors
Amal Hasan Atiyah

Abstract
The conducted work, here, was aimed at using a lactophenol-based technique, a method for roundworm slide preparation, in the slide preparation of hard ticks (Ixodes) and compared its outcomes with those by a KOH-based technique, which can generate black-colored appearance of the ticks in the prepared slides due to the burning effect of KOH. Here, ticks were placed in the lactophenol solution (1 part of lactic acid, 1 part of phenol, 2 parts of glycerin, and 1 part of distilled water) for one to three months, depending on the thickness of ticks, at room temperature (22-30˚C). For the KOH method, 70% alcohol was used immediately after placing the ticks in the KOH solution. The results of the lactophenol method showed high quality and very clear tick slides when compared with those prepared by the use of KOH, which revealed dark-looking tick appearance. The current study provides an excellent technique that involves the utilization of lactophenol to prepare high quality tick slides for better diagnosis and scientific studies of hard ticks (Ixodes).