Comparative studies on excystation and morphological features of the metacercariae of Echinostoma paraensei and E. caproni.
Studies were done to determine specific differences between the metacercariae of Echinostoma paraensei and E. caproni. The percentage of excystation of E. caproni in an alkaline trypsin-bile salts medium was about 6x greater than that of E. paraensei. The body and acetabular length of excysted metacercariae of E. caproni were significantly greater (Student's t-test, P < 0.05) than those of E. paraensei. The length and width of encysted metacercariae of E. caproni were significantly greater than those of E. paraensei. The number of excretory concretions in both encysted and excysted metacercariae of E. caproni was significantly greater than that of E. paraensei. In conclusion, in vitro excystation data and morphometric light microscopic studies were useful in determining specific differences in the metacercariae of these 2 closely related allopatric species of 37-collar-spined Echinostoma.
Fried
B
B
Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042, USA. friedb@lafvax.lafayette.edu
Reddy
A
A
D000818:Animals; D004449:Echinostoma / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013045:Species Specificity