Salivary gland antigens of Ixodes dammini are glycoproteins that have interspecies cross-reactivity.

Serum from rabbits and rats exposed to Ixodes dammini adults and larvae, respectively, contain antibodies to a large number of antigens in salivary gland homogenates from adult ticks that cross react with the antigens of a closely related species, Ixodes scapularis, and significantly with Dermacentor variabilis antigens. The salivary gland antigens of I. dammini are glycoproteins composed of both N- and O-linked carbohydrate chains. The antigenic determinants reside in both the polypeptide and carbohydrate chains.