The glands of trematode cercariae of the family Microphallidae Travassos, 1920.
The ultrastructure of the glands of microphallid cercariae is described. The fully-formed cercariae possess only penetration glands opening onto the surface of the tegument. Cercarial embryos have tegumental glands transferring their secretion in the tegument. In all studied species two anterior pairs of penetration glands produce identical granules while two posterior pairs produce heterogeneous granules of various shapes and sizes. Tegument cells are divided into mucoid and two other types of tegument glands (TG1 and TG2). The mucoid glands of Microphallinae cercariae produce large fibrous granules, while those of Maritrematinae cercariae produce osmiophil ones. TG1 cells of Maritrema subdolum produce large rod-shaped granules and TG1 cells of Levinseniella brachysoma, Microphallus sp. and M. claviformis produce two types of osmiophil granules. TG2 produce small rod-shaped granules. The association of gland ultrastructure with their function and features of the microphallid life-history are discussed.
Galaktionov
K V
KV
Laboratory of Parasitology, Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Russia.
Malkova
I I
II
D000818:Animals; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008974:Mollusca / Q000469:parasitology; D014200:Trematoda / Q000648:ultrastructure*