[Traumatic insemination and tubular egg receptacle in the pinworm parasite of the common domestic rabbit].
A morphological study of subgravid females of Passalurus ambiguus, pinworm of the domestical Rabbit, revealed two remarkable structures: - a tubular egg receptable formed from tissue of the ventral hypodermal cord in the vulvar region in which the total egg production of the female accumulates; - a hypodermal pocket beneath the cuticle in the vulvar region which is used during traumatic insemination, a phenomenon until now unknown in the Nemathelminthes. These structures might be explained as adaptations to the short lifespan of Oxyurid males. Thus, the clustering of eggs in the environment would increase the intensity of infection and therefore the chances of males finding mates. Similarly, the insemination of females before the vulva is formed might be favoured.
D000818:Animals; D004757:Enterobius / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000502:physiology*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000502:physiology; D007314:Insemination; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits / Q000469:parasitology*; D014844:Vulva / Q000502:physiology
Insémination traumatique et tube de ponte chez l'oxyure parasite du lapin domestique.