Comparison of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in salivary gland of Boophilus microplus, Haemaphysalis longicornis and Ixodes holocyclus, and quantification of PGE2 in saliva, hemolymph, ovary and gut of B. microplus.

The amount of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in salivary gland of semi-engorged adult female Boophilus microplus, Haemaphysalis longicornis and Ixodes holocyclus were 374.3 pg, 427.0 pg and 825.0 pg per one tick, respectively. It was thought that the PGE2 production is a common phenomenon among ticks. Then PGE2 concentrations in saliva and hemolymph, salivary gland, ovary and gut of fully-engorged adult female B. microplus were compared. The PGE2 concentration in saliva induced by pilocarpine was 40.3 ng/ml and hemolymph was 19.1 ng/ml. Salivary gland, ovary and gut from a tick contains 35.5 pg., 27.0 pg and 2.5 ng of PGE2, respectively.