Abstract

Structure of the salivary glands of the unfed female tick Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius) (Acarina: Ixodidae)

José Antonio Olivieri¹

Nicolau Maués da Serra-Freire²

Universitat Ocidental, Núcleo Monagas, Maturin, Venezuela

Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Acini in in the salivary glands of female tick specimens of Amblyomma ajennense unfed at both postnymphal and adult phases, were studied. The salivary glands are consisted by three acini, one agranular and two granular. The agranular acini are directly attached to the anterior portion of the main salivary duct, consisting of cells without valve. A relatively large, clear, central cell occupies most of the alveolar midsection. The central cell is in contact with the acini lumen. Granular acini consist of approximately seven to fourteen cells (type II acini) or seven to sixteen (type III acini). The type II acini have three types of granular cells ("a", "b" and "c") and valve; the type III acini have another three types of granular cells ("d", "e" and "f") also presenting a valve.

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