Ultrastructural Study of the Salivary Glands of Ornithodoros Moubata Nymphs During Feeding

Abstract

Tick salivary glands are the principal organs through which pathogens are transmitted to the vertebrate host. Salivary glands of the argasid nymph, O. moubata, consists of grape-like clusters of two morphologically distinct types of acini; agranular or Type I and granular or Type II. Type I acini have an unknown function but in ixodids they produce a hydroscopic fluid used by the tick to take up moisture from the atmosphere. Type II acini secrete a fluid that contains an anticoagulant and pharmacologically active substances. The purpose of this study is to describe the ultrastructure of both types of acini using the nomenclature developed for ixodid salivary glands by Needham and Coons and Fawcett, et al.