title: Reproductive system abnormalities in Schistosoma mansoni adult worms isolated from Nectomys squamipes (Muridae: Sigmodontinae): brightfield and confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis.
abstract: Schistosoma mansoni adult worms with genital anomalies isolated from Nectomys squamipes (Muridae: Sigmodontinae) were studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy under the reflected mode. One male without testicular lobes (testicular agenesia/anorchism) and two females, one with an atrophied ovary and another with 17 uterine eggs, were identified. The absence of testicular lobes occurred in a worm presenting otherwise normal male adult characteristics: tegument, tubercles and a gynaecophoric canal with spines. In both female specimens the digestive tube showed a vacuolated appearance, and the specimen with supernumerary uterine eggs exhibited a developing miracidium and an egg with a formed shell. The area of the ventral sucker was similar in both specimens however the tegument thickness, ovary and vitelline glands of the specimen with the atrophied ovary were smaller than those of the one with supernumerary eggs. These reported anomalies in the reproductive system call attention to the need to improve our understanding of genetic regulation and the possible role of environmental influences upon trematode development.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia e Laboratórios, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. machado@uerj.br
authors.forename: Renata Heisler
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa-Silva
authors.forename: Elaine Machado
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Carla de Lamare
authors.initials: Cde L
authors.lastname: Biolchini
authors.forename: Henrique Leonel
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: Delir Corrêa
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Machado-Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006059:Gonadal Dysgenesis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009115:Muridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000648:ultrastructure