Fine morphology of the egg-shell of Sarcoptes scabiei(L.) (Acarina: Sarcoptidae).

Abstract Scanning and transmission electron microscopy investigation of the egg-shell morphology of Sarcoptes scabiei (L.) has been carried out. The eggs are oval in shape and exhibit numerous aeropyles on the external surface. The egg-shell consists of two layers: an inner translucent layer and an outer layer of finger-like projections with rounded tips. The projections are made of fibrillar units, embedded in a dense matrix, with no regular spatial distribution. The matrix and the fibrillar material were partially digested by treatment with 0.5% protease solution.