Diagram illustrating the experimental design of the complete blood meal (schematic frontal view). Stomoxys calcitrans were exposed to Anaplasma phagocytophilum-enriched blood provided through a glass feeder at H0 for 1 hour. Subsequently, every 24 h, flies were exposed to an uninfected blood meal through a glass feeder for 1 h. Batches of 20 flies were collected from the mesh cage at H1, H2, H3, H6, H9, H12, H24, H48, H96, and H120. Faecal samples were collected from the mesh cage at H1 and H24. Blood was collected at the end of each blood meal.