Morphological responses to feeding in ticks (Ixodes ricinus).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ticks can survive long periods without feeding but, when feeding, ingest large quantities of blood, resulting in a more than 100-fold increase of body volume. We study morphological adaptations to changes in opisthosoma volume during feeding in the castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus. We aim to understand the functional morphological features that accommodate enormous changes in volume changes.

Methods

Using light and electron microscopy, we compare the cuticle and epidermis of the alloscutum, the epithelium of the midgut diverticula, and the tracheae of adult female ticks when fasting, semi-engorged, and fully engorged.

Results

Our results add to an existing body of knowledge that the area of the epidermis increases by cellular differentiation, cellula

SUBMITTER: Starck JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6091150 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature