Ultrastructure of the integument of adult Paragonimus westermani

ABSTRACT

The present study was performed to observe the ultrastructure of the integument of adult Paragonimus westermani. Dogs experimentally infected with 60 metacercariae of P. westermani were autopsied 4 months after the infection. Adult P. westermani were extracted from the dogs and the fine structure was studied by means of scanning and transmission electron microscope. The findings are as follows Scanning electron microscopic findings showed that the spines and the papillae are distributed at whole body surface but the well developed spines or papaillae are shown around the oral suckrer and ventral sucker. At the end of the body, excretory pore was found, the shape was irregular. Transmission electron microscopic findings showed that plasma membrane, tegument, basal lamina, connective tissue, circular muscle layer, longitudinal muscle layer, nerve axon and tegumental cell were observed. In higher magnification, plasma membrane and bar-shaped granules were found at the outer surface of the tegument.