Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of ferritin 1 (Fer1) gene in different developmental stages,blood sucking stages and different organs of Dermacentor marginatus.Real-time quantitative PCR was used to analyze the expression profile of Fer1 gene in different developmental stages,blood vampire period and different organs of Dermacentor marginatus.The relative expression was calculated using 2^-△△Ct method using starved female ticks as a reference (1 fold-change,1 FC).The results showed that the female adults exhibited highest expression level of Fer1 gene at 72 h after blood feeding.In different development age,newly molted adult ticks (male and female),eggs,and larvae exhibited relatively low expression,while the relative expression level in nymph was higher.The relative expression level in larvea and nymphs under starvation state was higher than that in engorged state.In different tick organs,the expression level of Fer1 gene in midgut if semi-engorged tick was the highest.But there were no expressions detected in ovary and malpighian tube of semi-engorged female tick,and expressions of Fer1 were detected in salivary gland,midgut,ovary and malpighian tube in engorged female ticks,in which ovary and malpighian tube ranking ahead,while salivary gland was the last.The results showed that the relative expression level of Fer1 gene in the tick changed when feeding proceeded which was related to digestive enzymes in the tick,which laid a foundation for the study of biological characteristics and functional genes of this tick.This experiment provided basic data and reference for the study of key functional genes in the metabolic pathway of this tick species.

Key words: Dermacentor marginatus; Ferritin 1; developmental stage; blood vampire period; different organs; relative expression