Abnormal Opisthaptor in Neopolystoma orbiculare

Abstract

During late October 1970, while examining the urinary bladders of several painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) for helminths, an unusual parasite abnormality was observed. One of 12 _ : . E . specimens of Neopolystoma orbiculare (Stunkard 1916) Price 1939 was found possessing only three suckers on its opisthaptor (Fig. 1). Turtles were purchased that autumn from Lemberger Company (since acquired by Mogul-ED) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. All worms were preserved in alcohol-formalin-acetic acid under coverslip pressure, stained in hematoxylin, and mounted in Canada balsam. The aberrant worm measured 4.0 mm in length with an opisthaptor 0.98 mm in diameter, while the : il i 11 normal specimens ranged from 3.3 to 4.5 : : mm (mean 3.96 mm) with haptoral diameters : from 0.89 to 1.19 mm (mean 1.03 mm). Although spacing between suckers is generous on the anomalous haptor, there are no size or structural differences between suckers of the abnormal and normal worms.