TY - JOUR JF - Acarologia T1 - Ehrlichia-like microorganisms in the salivary glands of unfed Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs VL - 40 IS - 1 SP - 3 EP - 8 PY - 1999 SN - 0044-586X SN - 2107-7207 PB - Les Amis d'Acarologia AU - Zhu, Z.Q. UR - https://www1.montpellier.inrae.fr/CBGP/acarologia/article.php?id=188 DA - 1999-11-30 KW - Rickettsia-like microorganisms KW - Erlichia phagocytophila KW - Ixodes ricinus KW - salivary gland KW - acinus wall and lumen KW - tick-borne fever AB - A large number of Ehrlichia-like microorganisms was detected in acinus cells and lumen of salivary glands of host-searching unfed Ixodes ricinus nymphs. The results indicate that Ehrlichia-like microorganisms are able to multiply in the acinus cells and disseminate into acinus lumen before blood-feeding, and that the microorganism can be transmitted into their vertebrate host once salivation begins during the very early period of blood-feeding. Although if the detected Ehrlichia-like microorganisms is one of strains of Ehrlichia phagocytophila remains uncertain, the results may give some clues to the further investigations into the tick relationship of the TBF agent. ER -