title: Morphological characteristics and developmental changes of the ovary in the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann.
abstract: Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is an important vector of transovarially transmitted parasites of the genus Babesia (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae). In the present study, we investigated the morphological characteristics and developmental changes of the ovary of H. longicornis. We show that the ovary of H. longicornis has a single tubular structure and is surrounded by a tunica propria. There is a longitudinal groove along one side of the ovary. During feeding and after engorgement, great changes can be observed in the ovary of H. longicornis and two rapid growth phases can be detected. The number of major protein bands of the ovary is significantly increased from day 3 of feeding and reaches a maximum on the day of engorgement. Therefore, the great diversity of proteins in the ovaries of H. longicornis can facilitate the identification of new targets for vaccine development.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China; Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: X L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: X H
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000635:transmission; D002681:China; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011817:Rabbits / Q000469:parasitology
keywords: Haemaphysalis longicornis; ovary; reproduction and development; scanning electron microscopy; vitellogenesis