• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2000

Present study was performed to observe the surface ultrastructures of Stictadora furcatum (Trematoda: Heterophyidae). Adult worms were recovered from the cat experimentally infected with metacercariae, and were prepared for scanning electron microscopy. The body was leaf-like and ventrally concave. The oral sucker armed with prominent tegumental spines on the inner surface, and it's lips were obscure. Sensory papillae (type I) in single or grouped forms symmetrically arranged around the oral sucker. The ventrogenital opening retained protruding gonotyl spines and sperms discharged from the genital pore . The body surface was covered with scale-like multipointed tegumental spines. The density and digitated point of spines were gradually decreased toward the posterior end of the body. The digitated points of spines on the anterior portion were 9-12, on the middle were 7-8 and 5-6, and on the posterior were 2-3 and peg-like. Although the tegumental ultrastructure of S. fuscatum was generally similar to those of other heterophyid flukes , the oral sucker with tegumental spines on the inner surface and without obvious lips, and the ventrogenital opening with protruding gonotyl spines were suggested to be the characteristic features.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2002

The present study was performed to observe tegumental ultrastructure of Echinoparyphium recurvatum according to developmental stages. Worms (1, 3, 5 and 15-day old) were recovered from chicks experimentally infected with metacercariae from radix auricularia coreana. One-day old worms were elongated and ventrally concave, and covered with peg-like tegumental spines except the adjacent areas of the head crown and excretory pore. Type I sensory papillae were distributed on the lip of the oral sucker, and grouped ciliated papillae were around the oral sucker. Peg-like tegumental spines were densely distributed on the anterior surface of the ventral sucker level. The ventral sucker had an aspinous tegument and no sensory papillae. Tegumental spines on the posterior surface of the ventral sucker level were sparsely distributed and disappeared posteriorly. In 3 and 5-day old worms, the tegument around the oral sucker was aspinose and wrinkled concentrically. The ventral sucker had a wrinkled tegument and many bulbous papillae. Type I sensory papillae were distributed between the bulbous papillae. Tegumental spines were spade-shaped with a terminal tip. A total of 45 collar spines including 4 end group ones on both ventral corners was alternately arranged in 2 rows. The 15-day old worms were very stout and their tegumental spines were tongue-shaped without a terminal tip, From the above results, it is confirmed that the surface ultrastructure of E. recurvatum was generally similar to that of other echinostomatid flukes. However, some features, i.e., morphological change of tegumental spines and appearence of sensory papillae on the ventral sucker according to development, and number, shape and arrangement of collar spines, were characteristic, which may be of taxonomic and bioecological significance.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 1989

A scanning electron microscopic study was performed to observe the tegumental ultrastructures of Paragonimus iloktuenensis according to its developmental stages. The metacercariae were obtained from the liver of the brackish water crab, Sesarma dehaani. Juvenile and adult p. iloktsuenensis were recovered from the experimental rats on 2, 4 and 8 weeks after infection. The findings were summarized as follows: 1. The encysted metacercariae were charaeteristically gourd-shape, with their whole body surface beset with numerous spade-shape spines. The Barge, type II sensory papillae (non-ciliated round swellings) were arranged along the rim of the oral and ventral suckers, 11~12 and 6~8 in numbers respectively, 2. Two-week old juvenile worms, recovered chieay from the liver of the experimental rats, were slender in body shape: with their ventral sucker near the anterior one-third level. The distribution of tegumental spines was less dense than in the encysted metacercariae. The spines were with 1~2 pointed tips and 3~.4 longitudinal splits. Numerous ciliated knob-like, type I papillae were observed in both sides of the oral sucker, and 6 large, type If papillae were arranged along the rim of the ventral sucker. 3. Four week old worms, recovered from the thoracic cavity and/or lung parenchyme of the experimental rats, were thicker than wide in body configuration, and their ventral sucker was located near the anterior one.fourth level. The tegumental spines at ventral surface were grouped, each group with 3~5 aggregated ones. The type I and type II papillae (small-sired) were distributed chiefly around the rim of two suckers. 4. Adult (eight-week old) worms, recovered from the capsules in the lung parenchyme, were very stout, and covered densely with bearfoot like spines. At dorsal surface, cobblestone-like cytoplasmic processes were well-developed, with many tegumental spines embedded in them. It was observed in this study that the tegument of p. iloktsuenensis continued to change and differentiate as the worms grew to be adults.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2003

The tegumental ultrastructure of juvenile and adult Himasthla alincia (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) was observed by scanning electron microscopy. One-, 5- (juveniles) and 20-day-old worms (adults) were harvested from chicks experimentally fed metacercariae from a bivalve, Mactra veneriformis. The juvenile worms were elongated and cu wed ventrally. The head crown bore 31 collar spines, arranged in a single row. The lip of the oral sucker had 12 paired, and 3 single type 1 sensory papillae, and the ventral sucker had about 25 type II sensory papillae. The anterolateral surface between the two suckers was densely packed with tegumental spines with 4-7 pointed tips. The adult worms were more elongated and filamentous, and had severe transverse folds over the whole body surface. On the head crown and two suckers, type 1 and 11 sensory papillae were more densely distributed than in the juvenile worms. Retractile brush-like spines, with 8-10 digits, were seen on the anterolateral surface, whereas claw-shaped spines, with 2-5 digits, were sparsely distributed posteriorly to the ventral sucker The cirrus characteristically protruded out, and was armed with small spines distally. The surface ultrastructure of H. alincia was shown to be unique among echinostomes, especially in the digitation of its tegumental spines, the distribution of sensory papillae and by severe folds of the tegument.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 1992

The surface ultrastructure of Heterephyes nocens (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) was studied by scanning electron microscopy(SEM), The adult worms were recovered from experimentally infected cats and from a naturally infected patient. They were leaf-like, ventrally concave, and ovoid or lyriform in shape. Ciliated knob-like sensory papillae (type I) were observed in single or grouped forms on and around the oral sucker, whereas non-ciliated round swellings (type II papillae) were seen on the lip of the ventral sucker, The tegumental spines around the oral sucker were 5∼9 pointed, whereas those between the two suckers were 12∼17 pointed. yentrolaterally, three groups of 5∼6 type I papillae were located between the oral and ventral suckers, with single ones alternating between them. The genital sucker was protruded or depressed, depending on the contraction state of the nukes, and the gonotyl spine number ranged 50∼60. The number of tip points of tegumental spines was decreased posteriorly; finally they became 1∼3 pointed. On the dorsal surface, 4 groups of 4∼5 type I papillae were symmetrically located on both lateral sides, and the shape and distribution of tegumental spines were similar to those of the ventral surface. Although the tegumental ultrastructure of H. nocens was generally similar to those of other heterophyids, the genital sucker morphology including the number of gonotyl spines and/or the distribution pattern of tegumental spines and sensory papillae were suggested to be the characteristic features of H. necens.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.87-90
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• 2008

Gynaecotyla squatarolae (Digenea: Microphallidae) adult flukes were recovered from experimental chicks at day 4-6 post-infection and their tegumental ultrastructure was observed with a scanning electron microscopy. They were pyriform in shape, and their anterior halves were concaved ventrally. The whole body surface was covered with tegumental spines, which were wide and 16-17 digitated between oral and ventral suckers. The density of spines and number of digits decreased posteriorly. The oral sucker was subterminal and the excretory pore was at the posterior end of the worm. Two ventral suckers were similar in appearance and protruded near midline of the worm. The genital atrium was dextral to the small ventral sucker. The dorsal surface was covered with tegumental spines, but the spines were sparser than on the ventral surface. On the middle portion of the dorsal surface, a small opening presumed to be the Laurer's canal was seen. From these findings, it has been confirmed that the adult G. squatarolae has unique characteristics in the surface ultrastructure.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2000

A scanning electron microscopic study was performed on the surface ultrastructure of metacercariae and adults of Metagonimus takahashii. Metacercariae were collected from the scale of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) , and adult flukes were harvested 1-4 weeks after infection to rats. In excysted metacercariae. the oral sucker had type I (numerous) and type II (seven in total) sensory papillae. Tegumental spines were dense and digitated into 5-7 points on the surface anterior to the ventral sucker, but became sparse and less digitated posteriorly toward the end of the body In adults, seven type II sensory papillae were characteristically arranged around the lip of the oral sucker, and on the inner side of the lip four small and two large type I sensory papillae were symmetrically seen on each side (12 in total). Tegumental spines on anterior two-thirds of the body. were digitated with 9-12 tips ventrally and 8-13 tips dorsally. Sperms entering into the Laurer's canal were observed. The results show that the surface ultrastructure of M. takuhashii is generally similar to those of M. yokogawai and M. miyatai except for the digitation of tegumental spines.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.217-225
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• 1998

A scanning electron microscopic study was performed to observe surface ultrastructures of excysted metacercariae and adults of Metagonimus miyatai. Metacercariae were collected from the scale of the pale chub (Zacco platypus). and adult flukes were harvested 1-4 weeks after infection to rats. In excysted metacercariae, the oral sucker was devoid of tegumental spines and had type I and type II sensory papillae. Anteriorly to the ventral sucker, spines were dense and digitated into 5-7 points, whereas near the posterior end of the body spines were sparse and digitated into 2-3 points. In one-week adults, 7 type II sensory papillae were arranged around the lip of the oral sucker. and at inner side of the lip one pair of small and two pairs of large type I sensory papillae were seen on each side. The distribution of tegumental spines was similar to that of metacercariae, but they were more differentiated with 9-11 pointed tips. In two- to four- week old adults, the surface ultrastructure was nearly the same as in one-week old adults, however, sperms were frequently seen entering into the Laurer＇s canal. Conclusively, the surface ultrastructure of M. miyatai was generally similar to that of M. yokogawai, however, differentiation of tegumental spines and distribution of sensory papillae around the oral sucker were different between the two species. which may be of taxonomic significance.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.317-321
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• 2011

Adult gnathostomes were discovered in the stomach of the Jeju weasel, Mustela sibilica quelpartis, road-killed in Jeju-do (Province). Their morphological characters were examined to identify the species. Total 50 gnathostome adults were collected from 6 out of 10 weasels examined. In infected weasels, 4-6 worms were grouped and embedded in each granulomatous gastric tumor, except 1 weasel. Male worms were $25.0{\times}1.4$ mm in average size, and had a tail with pedunculate papillae, a spicule, and minute tegumental spines. Females were $40.0{\times}2.5$mm in average size, and had a tail without tegumental spines. Pointed and posteriorly curved hooklets were arranged in 8-10 rows on the head bulb. Tegumental spines were distributed from behind the head bulb to the middle portion of the body. The spines were different in size and shape by the distribution level of the body surface. Fertilized eggs were $65.5{\times}38.9\;{\mu}m$ in average size, and had a mucoid plug at 1 pole. These gnathostomes from Jeju weasels were identified as Gnathostoma nipponicum Yamaguti, 1941. By the present study, it was confirmed for the first time that G. nipponicum is distributed in Jeju-do, the Republic of Korea, and the Jeju weasel, M. sibilica quelpartis, plays a crucial role for its definitive host.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 1995

The surface ultrastructure of metacercariae and adults of Gymnophallokles seoi, the only known gymnophallid infecting humans, was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Metacercariae were ovoid or pyriform in shape and slightly concave ventrally. The oral sucker had two sizes of type I papillae, small and large, encircling its lip. Type I papillae were arranged in a row on both side oi the body. The ventral pit had several type I papillae on its inner surface. The ventral sucker was covered with cobble-stone like cytoplasmic processes and had 6 type I papillae on its lip. The surface of the body was covered with the tegumental spines except for the ventromedian area between the two suckers. The spines at anterior body were digitated into 3-5 points, and their size decreased at posterior one third or the body. Adult worms were rhomboid or ellipsoid in shape and covered with tegumental spines except for the ventromedian area. The shape and distribution of the tegumental spines and sensory papillae were similar to those of metacercariae. However, sensory papillae arranged in a row on the ventral surface of metacercariae were not observed in adults. The ventral pit became larger and more prominent as the fluke grew. It is suggested that the ventral pit function as an additional adhesive organ to the host tissue.