Ultrastructural study of the body surface and the flame cell of oochoristica sp [cestoda: anoplocephalidae]

Ultrastructural studies on the body surface of the adult tapeworm Oochoristica sp. revealed that all the strobilar surface including the scolex and the adhesive surfaces of the suckers are covered with long filamentous microtriches. Using scanning and transmission electron microscopes, the basic morphology of the microtriches was studied and found to be similar to those described in other cestodes, but differs in having a relatively long basal regions. The flame cell was also described

survey of gregarines associated with tenebrio molitor and opatriodes vicinus in the central region of Saudi Arabia

The present work recorded five species of Septate gregarines in the intestine of two species of insects, they were: Gregarina polymorpha [Hamm.], in the gut of Tenebrio molitor [L.], percentage of infection 100%, with a density of 2-6 and G. cuneata [Stein], in the gut of T. molitor [L.], percentage of infection 100% with a density of 15-17; Hirmocystis harpali [Watson], in the mid gut of Opatriodes vicinus [Fairmaire], percentage of infection 34%, with a density of 19-28 and Leidyana sp. in the mid gut of O. vicinus percentage of infection 17%, with a density of 2-11 and Spharorynchus chabaudi percentage of infection 33% with a density of 100-180 in an infected insect. Members of genus Gregarina are considered to be coccidian and malarial organisms, however, till now gregarines cause little or no damage to their hosts

Effect of xiphidiocercarial infection on the blood volume of the fresh water snail lanistes carinatus oliver

The blood volume of uninfected fresh water snail Lanistes carinatus Olivier [Mollusca: gastropoda] and those parasitized with xiphidiocercariae have been measured using the dilution method of inulin. Uninfected specimens have a blood volume of 53.92 [as a percentage of the wet weight] compared with 32.71% measured for parasitized ones. The host is likely to suffer very considerable side effect of infection after a reduction of nearly 36.29% of its blood volume

Effect of crytocotyle lingua on the ionic concentration of littorina obstusata [L]

The concentration of sodium, potassium and calcium ions [the most important inorganic ions in the body fluid] were determined in both parasitized and uninfected Littorina obtusata [L.]. The ionic concentrations were determined using a Pye Unicam SP atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Sodium and calcium were determined using the absorption mode, while potassium concentration was measured in the emission mode using special potassium filter. The results revealed no significant difference in the concentration of Na+, K+ and Ca++ between parasitized and uninfected L. obtusata. It seems that although the presence of the parasite within the molluscan hosts caused dramatic effects in the tissue and physiology of the snail, the blood ionic concentration of parasitized snail remains isosmotic to that of the surrounding medium