The tick pools were homogenized by using 90-mesh
alundum sand in a prechilled, sterile mortar and pestle with 1.6 mL-2 mL ice-cold bovine albumin 1 medium (1x medium 199 with Earle salts, 1% bovine albumin, 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 [micro]g/mL streptomycin, and 1 [micro]L/mL amphotericin B) under high containment.