Abstract

Using energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA) in conjunction with a scanning electron microscope, high levels of sulfur were recorded in proboscis hooks of 5 species of Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchus qatarensis Amin, Saoud, and Alkuwari, 2002; Acanthocephalus dirus (Van cleave, 1931); Neoechinorhynchus idahoensis Amin and Heckmann, 1992, Echinorhynchus salmonis (Muller, 1784); and Pseudoacanthocephalus sp. Petrochenko, 1956. Sulfur was also present in eggs of N. qatarensis. No sulfur was recorded in the body of worms. The 5 species of Acanthocephala were obtained from several fish hosts and 1 toad species from 7 geographical locations. Sulfur ions are probably present in disulphide bonds characteristic of 2 amino acids, cystine and cysteine, which are common amino acids in the protein of mammalian hair and horns and are probably associated with the hardness of acanthocephalan

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