Scanning electron microscopy of digest cells in the midgut epithelium of Boophilus microplus

Scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of microvilli on the digest cells, but more importantly, it showed that the gut could be everted to expose the lumen surface of the cells to molecular analysis. X-ray microanalysis demonstrated the presence of iron and sulphur in the haematin granules within spent digest cells, confirming that these granules are end products of blood digestion in adult ticks.