Ultrastructural study of the internal organs of ixodid ticks in the scanning electron microscope

The structure of the surfaces of midgut and salivary glands in hungry and engorged females of Hyalomma asiaticum was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy. Preparations were fixed in glutaraldehyde osmium and then dehydrated by the critical point method and gold or platinum coating Different periods of fixation at room temperature or at 4 degrees C did not affect the condition of surface structures of gut and salivary glands.