title: Ultrastructure of the salivary glands of non-infected and infected glands in Glossina pallidipes by the salivary glands hypertrophy virus.
abstract: Light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy analyses were conducted to examine the morphology and ultrastructure of the salivary glands of Glossina pallidipes. Three distinct regions, each with a characteristic composition and organization of tissues and cells, were identified: secretory, reabsorptive and proximal. When infected with the salivary gland hypertrophy (SGH) virus, glands showed a severe hypertrophy, accompanied by profound changes in their morphology and ultrastructure. In addition, the muscular fibers surrounding the secretory region of the glands were disrupted. The morphological alterations in the muscular tissue, caused by viral infection, could be an important aspect of the pathology and may shed light on the mode of action of the SGH virus. Results were discussed with regard to the potential effect of viral infection on normal salivation and on the ability of infected tsetse flies to transmit a trypanosome parasite.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento per le Innovazioni dei sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali, Università della Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy. lauraguerra@unitus.it
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Stoffolano
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambellini
authors.forename: Valentina Laghezza
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Masci
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Belardinelli
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fausto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004267:DNA Viruses; D007304:Insect Viruses; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014370:Tsetse Flies / Q000648:ultrastructure* / Q000821:virology*