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Salivary glands of Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae): a histological and an ultrastructural overview

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Abstract

The present study on the salivary glands of semi-engorged Amblyomma cajennense females has identified the various cell types present in this tissue and allowed its morphohistochemical characterization. Marking techniques were applied to detect polysaccharides (PAS), proteins (bromophenol blue), lipids (Nile blue) and calcium (von Kossa), as well as those of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results obtained by TEM showed and confirmed that these individuals’ glands are also formed by round acini that are connected to the common excretory duct through acinar and intermediate ducts. Histological data as well as ultrastructural ones showed that the glands are formed by types I, II and III acini. In this study with salivary glands polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and calcium were observed in the cytoplasm and/or cell secretion granules—both free or forming complexes, as the intensity of the marking varied according to the cell as well as the type of acini analyzed, showing the structural and functional complexity of the tick salivary glands, characteristics that give the multifunctional character to this organ.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) for grants number 07/59020-0 and to CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico). Authors thank Mr. Gérson de Mello Sousa and Cristiane M. Mileo for their technical assistance. Part of this work has been facilitated through the Integrated Consortium on Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases (ICTTD-3) supported by the European Union under contract number 510561-INCO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP, Av. 24 A, no. 1515, Cx. Postal 199, CEP 13506-900, SP, Rio Claro, Brazil

    Sandra Eloisi Denardi & Maria Izabel Camargo-Mathias

  2. Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, FCAV, UNESP, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Castellane, s/n, CEP 14884-900, SP, Jaboticabal, Brazil

    Karim Christina Scopinho Furquim & Gervásio Henrique Bechara

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  1. Sandra Eloisi Denardi
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  2. Karim Christina Scopinho Furquim
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  3. Gervásio Henrique Bechara
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  4. Maria Izabel Camargo-Mathias
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Correspondence to Maria Izabel Camargo-Mathias.

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Denardi, S.E., Furquim, K.C.S., Bechara, G.H. et al. Salivary glands of Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae): a histological and an ultrastructural overview. Exp Appl Acarol 54, 177–189 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-010-9421-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-010-9421-5

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