Cirrus Pouch Research Articles

Morphometry on Lancet Flukes Found in Japanese Sika Deer (Cervus nippon centralis) Captured in Iwate Prefecture, Japan

Thirty-six flukes were collected from the livers of wild deer (Cervus nippon centralis) captured in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, and were served for morphometry. The length and/or the width of the body, suckers, testes, ovary, vitelline glands, cirrus pouch and eggs in the uterus of the flukes were measured. The distance between anterior end of the body and position of the maximal body-width or upper end of the testes were also determined. A remarked morphological characteristic was that the right and left testes did not lie tandem but lined bilaterally. Also the position of the maximal body-width did not always locate in the posterior part of the body of the fluke. The property was in accordance with those for Dicrocoelium chinensis.

Histological characterization of Sticholecitha serpentis Prudhoe, 1949 (digenea, bieriidae, sticholecithinae), parasite of Bothrops moojeni Hoge, 1966 (serpentes, viperidae)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphology of the species Sticholecitha serpentis Prudhoe, 1949 by means of histological procedures. Helminths were previously fixed in Railliet & Henry solution, uncompressed and were included in 2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate. Longitudinal and transverse serial sections with a 4-mm thickness were performed in a microtome (Leica RM 2165), stained with haematoxylin-eosin and then analyzed in a computerized image analysis system (Qwin Lite 2.5, Leica). Structures of systematic value, such as oral sucker, acetabulum, prepharynx, pharynx, esophagus, intestinal caeca, vitelline glands, ovary, uterus, cirrus pouch and testicles were described. Structures that were poorly visible in total preparations were also observed and described, such as efferent ducts, ejaculatory duct, prostate, seminal vesicle, seminal receptacle, Laurer’s channel, Mehlis’ gland, vitelline ducts, metraterm, genital atrium, digestive glands and excretory vesicle. We demonstrated that histological analysis can supply important data regarding the morphological characterization of S. serpentis and will be able to contribute to systematic studies of trematodes.

Fine structure of the male reproductive ducts, vagina and seminal receptacle of Cyathocephalus truncatus (Cestoda: Spathebothriidea)

Fine structure of the vas efferens, vas deferens, ejaculatory duct with accessory glands and vagina with seminal receptacle is described in the spathebothriidean tapeworm, Cyathocephalus truncatus (Pallas, 1781) Kessler, 1868. The numerous well-developed prostate glands are characterised by having secretory granules with an electron-dense core surrounded by a matrix of lower electron density. Coalescence of the outer part of the granules with each other takes place in the terminal end of the secretory ducts. The position of prostate glands around the proximal part of the cirrus pouch and terminating in the ejaculatory duct is a characteristic feature of the Spathebothriidea. Up to 20 closely arranged muscle layers make up the muscular cirrus pouch wall with 4 well-developed muscular layers in the ejaculatory duct and cirrus. Both the cirrus and the vagina are covered with the same uniform cone-shaped microtriches. The vagina has an extensive seminal receptacle. All of these structures are well-adapted to insure successful sperm transfer involving ejaculation and storage, probably for both self- and cross-insemination. Cyathocephalus truncatus has a cirrus similar to that of the monozoic, progenetic caryophyllidean, Archigetes sieboldi and well-developed prostate glands like those of the polyzoic pseudophyllidean, Diphyllobothrium latum. The ultrastructural aspects of the male and female reproductive system of C. truncatus are compared with those of other tapeworms.

A preliminary Histochimecal study on proteins, lipids, and oxygen-deficient ribosomal DNA in Khawia grypi

In this research, a histochemical study was undertaken on a caryophyllidian , Khawia grypi, recently described from Barbus grypus .The materials detected were: protein using mercuric bromophenol blue, lipids using Sudan black B , deoxyribonucleic acid using Feulgen reaction, (t is recovered from the results that protein and lipids are present in large quantities in the tegument , muscle bundles, mesenchyma and excretory canals while DNA was present in these organism in reasonable quantities, however, it was more abundant in the mesenchyma. The reproductive organs have reacted in different levels after applying the three techniques , protein and lipids were abundant or moderate in these organs, while in cirrus pouch lipid was scarce. The gonad high content of the protein indicates the high physiological activities of these organs such as gametogenesis, supply the nutrients and metabolites transport.

Redescription of Monticellia magna (Rego, dos Santos & Silva, 1974) (Eucestoda: Monticelliidae) parasite of Pimelodus spp. (Pisces: Siluriformes) from Argentina, and morphological study of microtriches

Monticellia magna (Rego, dos Santos & Silva, 1974) is redescribed and the microtriches and their distribution are studied for the first time. This species is characterised by the following combination of characters: (1) vagina anterior to cirrus pouch; (2) muscular asymmetrical sphincter present; (3) testes in one layer and in two fields connected anteriorly and posteriorly; (4) vitelline follicles distributed cortical, paramuscular and a few follicles medullary; (5) internal longitudinal musculature strongly developed; and (6) scolex with filiform microtriches in apical region, filiform and spiniform microtriches in central cavity, marginal ring and nonadherent surface of suckers, and spiniform microtriches in neck and immature proglottides. The species parasitised fishes of Pimelodus spp. Strict specificity of South American proteocephalids for their hosts is placed into consideration since recently new host records have been reported, especially for hosts commercially exploited.

A new species of Mathevotaenia (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) and other tapeworms from marsupials in Argentina.

Cestodes are reported from Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840 and Micoureus cinereus Temminck, 1824 (Marsupialia: Didelphidae) in Argentina. These include a new species of Mathevotaenia Akhumyan, 1946 (Cestoda: Anoplocephalata) as well as M. bivittata (Janicki, 1904) and an unknown hymenolepidid cestode. Mathevotaenia argentinensis n. sp. is characterized by a relatively narrow strobila, 18-37 mm in total length and 1.0-1.5 mm in maximum width, 135-163 craspedote proglottids, 19-27 testes, and a muscular genital atrium. This species differs from M. didelphidis (Rudolphi, 1819) in the disposition of the genital ducts between the excretory canals and in the entrance of the vagina into the genital atrium posterior to the cirrus pouch; from M. paraguayae Schmidt and Martin, 1978 in the disposition of the genital ducts, absence of a seminal receptacle, and presence of an armed cirrus; and from M. boliviana Sawada and Harada, 1986 and M. pennsylvanica Chandler and Melvin, 1951 in the presence of an armed cirrus. Linstowiines appear to be the dominant cestodes in New World marsupials, with M. bivittata representing the most prevalent and widely distributed species. The hymenolepidid is the first record of this family in Neotropical marsupials.

Alloglossidium hirudicola sp. n., a neotenic trematode (Plagiorchiidae) from leeches, Haemopis sp. 1969.

Alloglossidium hirudicola sp. n. is described from adult specimens recovered from the ceca of leeches, Haemopis sp., purchased from a commercial source. It differs from A. corti (Lamont, 1921) Van Cleave and Mueller, 1934, and from A. geminus (Mueller, 1930) Van Cleave and Mueller, 1934, in having shorter ceca, smaller cirrus pouch, and in distribution of cuticular spines.

Structure of Reproductive System of the Amphicotyllide Cestode Eubothrium rugosum (Cestoda, Pseudophyllidae)

A tendency for increase both of numerical and of ecological factors of infestation in pseudophyllid cestodes is realized due to morphological peculiarities of the structure of their reproductive system. In the species E. rugosum with the closed bursiform uterus and intrauterine development of eggs, there are revealed the same degree of maturity of oocytes in ovary, the lack of sphincter or filtering cell at the base of the ovicapt infundibulum, and the presence of a large vitelline reservoir. By analogy with trematodes, an interconnection is traced between the degree of egg maturation in the uterus and morphology of uterus and vittelicles. The thickening of the egg membrane has been shown to occur not only by deposits of individual vitelline globules at the internal superficial egg layer, but also by binding of lipid droplets excreted from the surrounding parenchyma to the uterine tube along its entire length to the external egg surface. The male reproductive system of Eubothrium rugosum is characterized by the presence of a small cirrus pouch, by the cirrus supplied with microtrichia, which corresponds to the similar vagina structure, and by localization of prostate glands outside the cirrus pouch. Comparison is presented with other ultrastructural peculiarities of organization of the reproductive system in the earlier studied species of pseudophyllid cestodes, Diphyllobothrium latum.

Redescription of Proteocephalus bagri and p. Rhamdiae (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae), parasites of Rhamdia quelen (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from South America, with comments on morphological variation.

The pimelodid fish Rhamdia quelen (Quoy et Gaimard, 1824) in South America harbours two species of proteocephalid cestodes, Proteocephalus bagri Holcman-Spector et Mañé-Garzón, 1988 and P. rhamdiae Holcman-Spector et Mañé-Garzón, 1988. These species are redescribed based on a detailed morphological study, supported by multivariate analysis (principal component analysis). Features distinguishing these species are: (1) the shape of proglottides, (2) the mean number of testes, (3) the topography of vitelline follicles, (4) the thickness of internal longitudinal musculature, (5) the mean number of uterine branches, (6) the ratio of cirrus pouch length to proglottis width, (7) the shape of ovary in mature and gravid proglottides and (8) the genital pore position in mature proglottides. The specific status of P. bagri and P. rhamdiae is confirmed and neotypes of both species are designated.

Molecules, morphology and morphometrics of Cainocreadiumlabracis and Cainocreadium dentecis n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae) parasitic in marine fishes

Molecular, morphological and morphometric analyses were conducted on several samples of Cainocreadium labracis (Opecoelidae), a trematode parasitic in marine teleosts. The samples were isolated from several specimens of Dicentrarchus labrax, the type host, and Dentex dentex. The molecular analysis of complete Internal Transcribed Spacer sequences of ribosomal DNA revealed that specimens isolated from each host species form two well-defined groups, whose sequence divergence reaches 7.5%. The morphological study showed that the two groups can be distinguished by several characters, including the level of maximum body breadth, the relative position of the testes, the shape of the cirrus pouch, and the extent of the uterus. Multivariate analyses of morphometrics demonstrated consistency of most of the characters for discriminating the two groups. Our results show that C. labracis specimens isolated from D. labrax and D. dentex represent clearly distinct entities from molecular, morphological and statistical points of view, which has enabled us to describe a new species, Cainocreadium dentecis n. sp.

RHINEBOTHRIUM XIAMENENSISN. SP. (EUCESTODA: TETRAPHYLLIDEA) INDASYATIS ZUGEIFROM THE COAST OF XIAMEN, CHINA

A new species of Rhinebothrium inhabiting Dasyatis zugei is reported from the southeast coast of China. This is the first report of Rhinebothrium from D. zugei. It represents a new host and a new location. The new species resembles Rhinebothrium corymbum by having a V-shaped ovary. It differs in the fewer loculi and testes numbers, longer bothrium pedicel and cephalic peduncle, larger cirrus pouch and vitelline follicles, and an aspinose peduncle. Rhinebothrium xiamenensis differs from Rhinebothrium ezuti, Rhinebothrium walga, and Rhinebothrium hawaiiensis by having discrete vitelline follicles, fewer loculi, and ovarian shape.

Wardium paucispinosum sp. n. (Eucestoda: Hymenolepididae), parasite of Larus maculipennis (Aves: Laridae) in Mar del Plata, Argentina; with comments on Wardium semiductilis (Szidat, 1964) comb. n.

A new species Wardium paucispinosum (Eucestoda: Hymenolepididae) parasite from the intestine of Larus maculipennis (Lichtenstein) from Mar del Plata, Argentina is described. The distinctive features of the new species are: strobilar length 52.8 mm; 10 aploparaksoid rostellar hooks, 14 (12-17) microm long; ratio between cirrus pouch length and mature proglottid width (CPL/MPW) 0.38 (0.27-0.50); regular cylindrical evaginated cirrus, 90 x 10 microm, with distal end without spines and proximal and medium thirds covered with spines 7 microm long; simple tubular membranous vagina, 110 x 10 microm, without sclerotised portions and sphincters; eggs fusiform, 77 x 44 microm. Besides, Hymenolepis semidutctilis Szidat, 1964, from the intestine of Larus dominicanus and L. maculipennis from Santa Fe, Argentina is transferred to the genus Wardium Mayhew, 1925, based on the presence and shape of the rostellar hooks.

Plagiorchis muris: recovery, growth and development in albino rats.

Metacercariae of Plagiorchis muris, obtained from naturally infected dragonflies, Sympetrum eroticum, successfully established in 4-week-old albino rats up to 14 days post-infection (p.i.) but by day 28 p.i. the recovery rate had significantly decreased. The genital primordia in excysted metacercariae were differentiated into those of metraterm, Mehlis' gland, ovary and cirrus pouch, with the primordial testes appearing on day 1 p.i. The vitellaria and eggs in the uterus were present in flukes on days 2 and 4 p.i., respectively. Mature flukes were established in the lower part of the small intestine on day 5 p.i., with the peak of egg production occurring on day 14 p.i. Growth of the flukes continued up to day 28 p.i.

Microsomacanthus kaulobatroni n. sp. et Wardium neotropicale n. sp. parasites d' Himantopus melanurus du Paraguay

The authors describe and illustrate two hymenolepidid cestodes parasitising Himantopus melanurus (Aves) from Paraguay. Microsomacanthus kaulobatroni n. sp., 20–30 long × 0.6 mm wide, with 10 diorchoid hooks 33–38 µm long, three testes in a transverse row, short cirrus 20–28 µm long armed with very minute spines, a short vagina with a sphincter, and a multi-lobed ovary, with genital ducts similar to those of Hymenolepis himantopodis ( sensu Fuhrmann, 1906) but with rostellar hooks different from those of Taenia himantopodis Krabbe, 1869 sp. inq. Wardium neotropicale n. sp., 40-50 long x 0.9 mm wide, has campanulate proglottides, scolex with 10 aploparaksoid rostellar hooks 9 µm long, testes arranged in a triangle, a short cirrus pouch without a transverse retractor muscle, very short, unarmed cirrus, a short vagina with a sphincter (30–35 µm in diameter) but no retractor muscle, a multi-lobed ovary and a bipartite uterus. The shape of the hooks distinguishes this species from T. himantopodis Krabbe, 1869 and other aspects of its anatomy from other species of Wardium with hooks of a similar size. A single specimen of a third Hymenolepis (sensu lato) species (lacking the scolex) could not be identified.

Contribution to the study of Microphallidae travassos, 1920 (Trematoda). XLV. Description of Maritrema feliui n. sp., parasite of shrews (Mammals) in Spain

The authors describe and illustrate the morphology of the adult stage of Maritrema feliui n. sp. (Trematoda Microphallidae) obtained from the intestine of the shrew Crocidura russula (Hermann, 1780), definitive host of the fluke present in the estuary of the river Llobregat (Catalonia, Spain). The larval stages are found in two hosts obtained from the area: 1) Mercuria confusa (Frauenfeld) [= Pseudamnicola similis (Draparnaud)] (Mollusca: Hydrobiidae), and 2) Gammarus aequicauda (Martynov) (Crustacea: Amphipoda). The adult stage is anatomically related to the Maritrema with a mean size of the body, two equal suckers, a short oesophagus and long caeca, and a short and transversal cirrus pouch with a smooth and filiform cirrus. According to morphological and geographical affinities, the authors propose the synonymies of 1) Maritrema "opisthometra" sensu Bridgman et al., 1972 with M. chiriacae Deblock, 1975; 2) Maritrema longiforme Kifune et al., 1972, with Maritrema laricola Ching, 1963. Besides Maritreminoides congjiangensis Chiu et Gu, 1981 is transferred into the genus Quasimaritrema Deblock, 1973 according to Maritreminoides Rankin is invalidated.

A New Genus of Metadilepididae (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) Parasitic in Terpsiphone rufiventer (Aves: Muscicapidae) from the Ivory Coast

Pseudadelphoscolex eburnensis, a new genus and species of metadilepidid Cyclophyllidea parasitic in the red-bellied paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufiventer, from the Ivory Coast, is described. The new species is characterized by davaineidlike rostellar hooks, absence of a rostellar pouch, a huge cirrus pouch in gravid proglottids, a bilobed uterus that becomes progressively reticular, absence of a paruterine organ, and eggs with an internal coat forming a crescentic protuberance outside the embryophore. The presence of a single row of rostellar hooks together with the lack of spines on the sucker and the structure and position of the uterus exclude this new material from Davaineidae. It cannot be placed in Dilepididae due to the lack of a rostellar pouch or in Paruterinidae because of the lack of a paruterine organ. The position of the excretory ducts in relation to the genital pores and the alternance of these pores are the main characters used to exclude this new species from the known genera of Metadilepididae. The diversity of forms of Metadilepididae in intertropical terrestrial birds is increased, and the validity of this taxon is strengthened.

Revision of the genus Vampirolepis Spasskij, 1954 (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae)

The genus Vampirolepis Spasskij, 1954 is re-defined on the basis of the original description and the first detailed redescription by Andreiko et al. (1969). A restricted definitions is proposed, the main features being the arrangement of testicles on a straight line snd numerous hooks of fraternoid shape. Other important characters are the strobila with numerous proglottids, the cirrus pouch of moderate size and the cirrus, smooth or armed with minute spines. Formerly included Hymenolepidid cestodes with reduced strobila, particularly long cirrus pouch and different arrangement of gonads do not belong to Vampirolepis. Members of Vampirolepis in the restricted sense show a cosmopolitan repartition and parasitize only bats. The author does not accept the synonymy of Rodentolepis Spasskiji, 1954 with Vampirolepis. A tentative list of the species belonging to the genus is proposed.

FMRFamide-like Peptides in the Nervous and Endocrine Systems of the Digenean HelminthEchinostoma liei

FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity has been demonstrated in the digenean trematode Echinostoma liei. The functions of FMRFamide-like substances appear to be many and varied within the invertebrates, where they are involved in neurotransmission, cardiovascular regulation, muscular contraction and/or relaxation, and in co-ordination of growth and maturation. It is clearly indicated that FMRFamide-like substances function as neurotransmitter/neuromodulator in E. liei by the abundance of positively stained nerve fibres and perikarya seen throughout the CNS and PNS. A single endocrine-like cell also showing FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity is situated within the muscular cirrus pouch.

Phyllobothrium hallericola n. sp. (Cestoidea: Phyllobothriidae) from a round Stingray, Urolophus halleri, in the Sea of Cortez

Phyllobothrium hallericola n. sp. differs from all congeners in having 9-13 testes in a single field anterior to the cirrus pouch. Its bothridial margins are crenulated, not loculated. It is the second species in the genus from the Urolophidae, differing from Phyllobothrium kingae Schmidt, 1978, which has 26-32 testes in 2 longitudinal rows. It was found in the spiral valve intestines of 2 round stingrays, Urolophus halleri, at Puerto Pefiasco, Sea of Cortez, Mexico. Among numerous species of cestodes found in a survey of 10 round stingrays, Urolophus halleri, from the Sea of Cortez, Mexico, 2 were infected with 1 and 6 specimens, respectively, of a new species of Phyllobothrium Beneden, 1849. The worms were fixed whole in the intestine with 10% formalin before their discovery. Hence, some de- gree of contraction is present in most. The fol- lowing description is based on these specimens, examined as whole mounts stained with Semi- chon's carmine. All measurements are in um un- less otherwise stated. The generic diagnosis fol-

Ultrastructure of the cirrus pouch of Cylindrotaenia hickmani (Jones, 1985) (Cestoda, Nematotaeniidae)

The cirrus pouch of Cylindrotaenia hickmani was examined by transmission electron microscopy. The cirrus pouch is a complex organ consisting of muscular, nervous and epithelial tissues. Muscles forming the cirrus pouch wall contain large myocytons that merge with myofibrils. Muscles supplying the gonadoducts within the pouch consist of small myocytons which are connected to associated myofibrils by elongate processes. Discrete neuromuscular junctions are commonly seen in both muscles. Two cells, thought to be neurons, are present in the pouch. The abundance of nervous tissue in the pouch is suggestive of a high level of neural control of the activity of that organ. The cirrus is lined by filamentous, hook-like and blade-like microtriches. Ciliated sensory receptors are found among the microtriches lining the cirrus. Epithelial cytons associated with proximal regions of the cirrus produce a material which is secreted from the syncytial cytoplasm of the cirrus. Intercellular junctions, resembling gap junctions, are common among the cells associated with the cirrus. The complexity of the cirrus pouch of C. hickmani suggests that this organ may prove valuable for studies on neuromuscular physiology and cellular interactions in cestodes.