Systematic & Applied Acarology
ISSN 1362-1971
An international journal of the Systematic and Applied Acarology Society, published since 1996

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Systematic & Applied Acarology (2008) 13, 109–119.

Description of the larva of Amblyomma ovale Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) by light and scanning electron microscopy

FÁBIO S. BARBIERI1, LUCIANA G. BRITO2, MARCELO B. LABRUNA3, DARCI M. BARROS-BATTESTI4, LUIS MARCELO A. CAMARGO1 & KÁTIA M. FAMADAS5

1 Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas 5/USP, 78965-000, Monte Negro, RO, Brazil. CNPq fellowship.

E-mail: fabaobarbieri@gmail.com

2 Embrapa Rondônia, 78900-970, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil

3 Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia/USP, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

4 Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

5 Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, UFRRJ, 23890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil

Abstract

The larval stage of Amblyomma ovale Koch is described using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Unfed larvae were obtained from a colony of A. ovale originating from engorged females collected on domestic dogs from Monte Negro County, state of Rondônia, Western Amazon, Brazil. Fifteen larvae were prepared and mounted on slides, and observed under a light microscope equipped with a drawing tube. Five specimens were prepared for scanning electron microscopy. Several morphological characters are described for the first time, including the chaetotaxy of the idiosoma, palps and Haller’s organ, as well as morphological features of the idiosoma, gnathosoma and legs. In addition, topographical and numerical patterns of integumentary pores (porotaxy) on the idiosoma of larval A. ovale are described using a recently proposed nomenclature. Three types of integumentary pores were identified on the idiosoma of A. ovale larvae: lyrifissures, small glands, and large wax glands. These structures were observed isolated or associated over the entire idiosoma, except on the scutum, which lacks large wax glands. Larvae of A. ovale showed similar topographical and numerical patterns of integumentary structures, with 6 pairs of large wax glands (1 pair dorsal/5 pairs ventral), 24 pairs of lyrifissures (11 pairs dorsal/13 pairs ventral), and 54 pairs of small glands (32 pairs dorsal/22 pairs ventral). These topographical and numerical patterns of integumentary structures of larval A. ovale showed only minor differences when compared with patterns of other Amblyomma larvae; however, a few key features can be used to differentiate A. ovale from other members of its genus.

Key words: Amblyomma ovale, larva, description, morphology, porotaxy

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Accepted by Richard G. Robbins: 6 Mar. 2008
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Last updated 15 July 2008
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