Publication details
Ultrastructure of the digestive tract of Paradiplozoon homoion (Monogenea)
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Parasitology Research |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-015-4331-4 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4331-4 |
| Field | Animal diseases, veterinary medicine |
| Keywords | Paradiplozoon homoion Monogenea Ultrastructure Digestive tract Haematin cell |
| Description | Paradiplozoon homoion is a representative of blood-feeding ectoparasites from the family Diplozoidae (Polyopisthocotylea, Monogenea). Although these worms have been the subject of numerous taxonomical, phylogenetic and ecological studies, the ultrastructure of the alimentary system and related structures, as well as the mechanisms of essential processes like fish blood digestion, remain mostly unknown. Our observation of P. homoion using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed two main types of digestive cells - U-shaped haematin cells and connecting syncytium. Particular structures such as mouth cavity with specialized receptors, two oval-shaped muscular buccal suckers, pharynx surrounded with the glandular cells, oesophagus, the intestinal caeca with intact erythrocytes in the lumen, the apical pinocytotic fibrous surface complex and haematin vesicles of U-shape cells have been shown in detail. According to our results the P. homoion is degrading the blood components predominantly intracellularly. |
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