Vol 7 (9) Sep’17

International Journal of Livestock Research eISSN : 2277-1964 NAAS Score -5.36

Original Research

Ultrastructural Studies on Argas persicus

Pottabathula Mallesh1*, Manchukonda Udaya Kumar2, Gubba Samanna Sreenivasa
Murthy3 and Mekala Lakshman4
1
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Koppole, Nalgonda District, Telanagana, INDIA
2
Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Korulta,
Jagitial Dist. PVNR TVU, Hyderabad-30, Telanagana, INDIA
3
Associate Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science
Rajendranagar, PVNR TVU, Hyderabad-30, Telanagana, INDIA
4
Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science Rajendranagar, PVNR
TVU, Hyderabad-30, Telanagana, INDIA

*Corresponding author: malleshparas@gmail.com

Rec. Date: Apr 03, 2017 13:41

Accept Date: Jul 05, 2017 16:46
Published Online: September 01, 2017
DOI 10.5455/ijlr.20170705044637

Abstract
The ultra-structural details of egg, larva and adult Argas persicus were studied by scanning electron
microscopy. The adult Argas persicus revealed palps, chelicera, hypostome, mechano-sensilla and basis
capitulam. In male Argas persicus, the genital aperture was semi-circular in shape whereas in female it
was horizontal slit like structure. The spherical eggs measured 418 ± 11.15 µm in diameter. The mean
length and width of oval shaped eggs were 399.5 ± 0.50 µm and 452.5 ± 9.5 µm respectively. The tarsus
of first pair of legs of Argas persicus larva (APL) consisted of Haller’s organ which was with an anterior
pit and posterior capsule surrounded by rough cuticular margin. The anterior pit was circular in outline
and contained seven sensilla, while 20 dorsal apertures were seen on the posterior capsule.

Key words: Argas persicus, Genital Aperture, Haller’s Organ, SEM

How to cite: Mallesh, P., Kumar, M., Murthy, G., & Lakshman, M. (2017). Ultrastructural Studies on Argas
Persicus. International Journal of Livestock Research, 7(9), 159-166.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/ijlr.20170705044637

Introduction
The fowl tick, Argas persicus (Oken, 1818) affects domestic fowl, turkey, duck, pigeon, geese, canaries
and ostrich. They hide in wild bird habitats, the cracks and crevices of poultry houses, bird nests, roosting
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sites and also under the bark of many trees. This tick cannot be identified during day time basically due to
their nocturnal habit and also due to similarity of body colour with hiding places. Sridharan et al (1998)
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studied the sensory structures present on the palps and legs of adult A. persicus by light, scanning and

Hosted@www.ijlr.org DOI 10.5455/ijlr.20170705044637

 Vol 7 (9) Sep’17
International Journal of Livestock Research eISSN : 2277-1964 NAAS Score -5.36

transmission electron microscopy. Abdel Shafy (2005) reported the larvae of A. persicus, A.
arboreus and A. hermanni carrying 26, 27 or 28, and 23 pairs of dorsal setae, respectively. Montasser
(2010) revealed that the egg of A. persicus was covered with chorion which appeared as a wrinkled layer
containing regions of textures. They also studied the morphology of larva A. persicus. The present study
was aimed to describe the morphometry of egg and morphology of larva and adult A. persicus.

Materials and Methods

Collection of Ticks
Adult ticks and their larval and nymphal stages were collected from different poultry farms located at
various places in Telangana and brought to the laboratory in zip lock bags with small holes for aeration.
These ticks were found in the cracks, crevices, below the feed trough, inner side of feed trough, bird
cages, litter and on birds.

Processing of Ticks for Scanning Electron Microscopy

Ticks were washed three times in normal saline and air dried. Ticks were fixed in 2.5 % Gluteraldehyde
in 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) for 24 h at 4 ˚C and post fixed in 2 % aqueous osmium tetroxide for
4h. They were dehydrated in series of ascending grades of alcohols and dried to critical point drying with
CPD (EMS-850) unit by using liquid carbon dioxide. The processed samples were mounted over the stubs
with double-sided carbon conductivity tape, and a thin layer of gold coat over the samples was done for 3
minutes by using an automated sputter coater (Model– JOEL JFC- 1600). Scanning electron microscopy
was performed using the instrument model JOEL-JSM-5600 at required magnifications as per the
standard procedures at RUSKA Lab College of Veterinary Science, PVNR TVU, Rajendranagar,
Hyderabad, India.

Results and Discussion

Adult A. persicus
Dorsal surface of adult Argas persicus had disc like areas called mammillations (Plate1A). Mouthparts
consisted of palps, chelicera, hypostome, mechano- sensilla and basis capitulam (Plate1B). Basal stalk,
pulvillus and two claws were observed on the tarsus of each leg of A. persicus (Plate1C). Similar findings
were noticed by Montasser (2010) and Soulsby (1982). In male A. persicus the genital aperture was semi-
circular in shape (Plate1D). In female A. persicus the genital aperture was a horizontal slit like structure
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(Plate1E) and the anterior margin of genital aperture had numerous sensilla (Plate1F).
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Plate 1A: SEM-Dorsal surface (posterior part) of Plate 1B: SEM-Mouthparts of adult female A.
A. persicus showing mammillations (M) and lateral persicus showing palps (P), chelicera (C),
border showing short pointed sensilla (inset) hypostome (H), mechano-sensilla (S) and
basiscapitulam (BC).

Plate 1C: SEM-A. persicus showing basal stalk Plate 1D: SEM-Male A. persicus showing
(BS), pulvillus (Pv) and two claws (Cl). mouthparts (MP) and genital aperture (G).

Plate 1E: SEM-Ventral view of adult female A. Plate 1F: SEM-The higher magnification of adult
persicus. Arrow indicating the horizontally situated female A. persicus having sensilla (S) on the
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genital aperture. anterior margin of genital aperture (G).

Fig. 1A-1F: Please Provide ligand
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The ventral view of both male and female A. persicus showed spherical to oval shaped anus with two leaf
like valves, each carrying more than 5 long pointed sensilla (Plate 2A). The anus was surrounded by a
wide oval perianal plate made up of hard cuticle (Plate 2A). Similar findings were reported by
Kakarsulemankhel (2010).

Plate 2A: SEM-Spherical to oval shaped anus in Plate 2B: SEM-Eggs of A. persicus showing
which a vertical slit guarded with two leaf like spherical (Sp) and oval (Ov) shaped eggs.
valves (V), each carrying more than 5 long pointed
sensilla (S). Anus is surrounding by a wide oval
peri-anal plate of hard cuticle (C).

Plate 2C: SEM-Egg of A. persicus showing oval Plate 2D: SEM-Higher magnification of chorion of
shape and numerous elevated parts on chorion. egg of A. persicus sshowing slit like openings
(arrow)
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Plate 2E: SEM-Anus on the ventral aspect of A. Plate 2F: SEM-A. persicus larvae (APL) showing
persicus larvae (APL) showing a vertical slit Haller’s organ (H) on the tarsus of first pair of legs.
guarded with two leaf like valves, each carrying a
long pointed sensillum (S).

Egg
The mean diameter of spherical eggs laid by the A. persicus collected from field was 418 ± 11.15µm. The
mean length and width of oval eggs were 399.5 ± 0.50 µm and 452.5 ± 9.5 µm (Plate 2B) respectively.
Montasser (2006, 2010) observed oval eggs with shorter measurements. The egg was showing numerous
elevated parts on chorion (Plate 2C) with slit like openings (Plate 2D).

Larva
Observations of morphology of anus, Haller’s organ and tarsus of leg of larvae were difficult by light
microscopy. The anus of A. persicus larva (APL) showed the vertical slit guarded with two leaf like
valves, each carrying a long pointed sensillum (Plate 2E). Similar findings were observed by Montasser
(2006). Haller’s organ (Plate 2F) was present on the tarsus of first pair of legs of APL consisting of
anterior pit and posterior capsule surrounded by rough cuticular margin (Plate 3A). The anterior pit was
circular and contained seven sensilla, while the posterior capsule had twenty dorsal apertures (Plate 3A).
The seven sensilla showed rough surface and there were no obvious pores, grooves or branches (Plate
3A). Klompen and Oliver (1993) observed seven sensilla in the anterior pit of A. (P). miniatus larva. They
categorized these sensilla into grooved, porous, serrated, thorny and pointed.
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Plate 3A: SEM-Higher magnification of Haller’s Plate 3B: SEM-Dorsal view of A. persicus larvae
organ which consists of anterior pit (AP) and showing dorsal plate (arrow), three pairs of legs
posterior capsule (PC). and dorsally located mouthparts. Capitulum is
located near the anterior margin of the ventral side.

Plate 3C: SEM-Dorsal plate of A. persicus larvae Plate 3D: SEM-Dorsal view of capitulum of A.
showing straight anterior margin and rounded persicus larva showing first three palpal segments
posterior one and also showing spherical tubercles (1, 2, 3) on dorsal surface and chelicera (CH)
(ST) and elongate tubercles (ET). consisting of basal (BS) and distal (DS) segments.

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Plate 3E: SEM-Ventral view of mouthparts of A. Plate 3F: SEM-Dorsal surface of A. persicus larva
persicus larvae showing four longitudinal rows of showing thorny sensilla (arrow).
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posteriorly-oriented conical denticles (D) on

hypostome (H), two palpi (P) and chelicera (C).

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Homsher and Sonenshine (1975), Buczek et al. (1998), and Ghosh and Mishra (2012) reported the 6
sensilla in anterior pit of Haller’s organ of Ixodes sp., Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma dromedari and
Amblyomma gervaisi respectively. In case of Ixodes laguri, 5 sensilla were noticed in the anterior pit.
Dorsal view of APL showed the centrally located dorsal plate and capitulum located near the anterior
margin of ventral side (Plate 3B). Dorsal plate of APL showed the straight anterior margin, rounded
posterior margin (Plate 3C) and also had spherical and elongate tubercles (Plate 3C). Dorsal view of
capitulum showed the appearance of first three palpal segments (1, 2, and 3) on dorsal surface. The
chelicera consisted of basal and distal segments (Plate 3D). Ventral view of mouthparts of APL showed
four longitudinal rows of posteriorly-oriented conical denticles (Plate 3E) on hypostome. Similar findings
were observed by Montasser (2006). SEM of palps and legs of adult A. persicus studied by Sridharan et al
(1998) revealed four types of morphologically different sensilla: grooved, porous, serrated and thorny out
of which only thorny sensilla (Plate 3F) were recorded in the larva of A. persicus in the present study.
The present study describes the detailed morphological characteristics of egg, larva and adult A. persicus
by scanning electron microscopy. The ultra-structural details of adult, egg and larva of A. persicus which
could not be studied by light microscopy were differentiated in this study.

Acknowledgment
The first author is very thankful to the P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University, Hyderabad
for the financial support in the form of PG stipend and for providing necessary facilities at RUSKA
Laboratory, C.V.Sc, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India to carry out the present work.
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