Observations on Aspects of Nutrition in Xenopacarus Africanus (Ereynetidae: Trombidiformes)

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Abstract
Xenopacarus africanus is found in the nasal passages of the African clawed toad, Xenopus laevis. The alimentary canal of the mite includes a powerful, muscular, sucking pharynx, a long narrow oesophagus and a ventriculus from which arise a number of paired lateral caeca. The food of the mite consists of blood obtained from vessels in the head of the toad. Since no intact Xenopus erythrocytes were found in the gut of the mite, their breakdown must either be rapid or take place outside the body as a result of the salivary activities of the mite. Although some digestion may occur within the lumen of the caeca it is thought that the haemoglobin or a breakdown product of this is absorbed by the cells lining the gut caeca and that within these cells, or parts of them which become detached and pass into the lumen, the main stages of digestion occur. The degradation of haemoglobin results in the production of large amounts of haematin.

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