Several reports are available regarding ticks parasitizing toads of the family Bufonidae. Although ticks can attach to different regions of the body, occurrence of these ectoparasites on parotoid macroglands is unfrequent when compared with other regions of body. In this study, using histology and scanning electron microscopy, we analysed a rare case of ticks that were found exclusively lodged inside pores of parotoid macroglands in the cane toad Rhinella marina. Our results indicate that the morphology of toad parotoid pores offers physical protection to tick larvae, favoring successful attachment. Evidences of secretion release from the accessory glands arranged around the parasitized pores seem to constitute a defensive chemical response against parasitism, suggesting a role for these poorly known glands.
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1 August 2016
Toad Parotoid Pores Shelter Tick Larvae
Pedro L. Mailho-Fontana,
Marta M. Antoniazzi,
Darci M. Barros-Battesti,
Carlos Jared,
Jonathan A. Campbell,
Edmund D. Brodie
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Amblyomma
Amphibia
Chemical defence
integument
Macroglands
parasitism
Rhinella