SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY ON ANISAKIS TYPE 1 THIRD STAGE LARVA / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

ABSTRACT

Surface topography of the Anisakis type I 3rd stage larva (L3), the main pathogen of anisakiasis, was observed by scanning electron microscope under magnifications of 400 to 14000X. The head bears a trapezoid undivided lip mass, with 2 mammillary elevations at the middle of the two lateral sides and a cuticular boring tooth on its ventral side. The mouth leading into the esophagus is situated in the centre of the centrally located cuticular elevation of the lip mass. The excretory pore opens ventrally just behind the boring tooth. The surface of the lip mass shows fine striations, but looks smooth elsewhere. Neither flat papillae nor minute "teeth" or "hairs" described hither to have been observed. The cuticle of the body surface shows shallow and irregular annular grooves and folds and numerous fine longitudinal micro-furrows and cristae. These surface markings appear uniformly from head to tail and to the utmost end of the pagoda like mucrones at the tip of the tail. The ventrally located crescent anus is situated about 90?m from the base of the mucron.