title: Morphological aspects of Angiostrongylus costaricensis by light and scanning electron microscopy.
abstract: Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a parasitic nematode that can cause severe gastrointestinal disease, known as abdominal angiostrongiliasis, in humans. This paper presents the characterization of first- and third-stage larvae and male and female adult worms of A. costaricensis by scanning electron and light microscopy. Several novel anatomical structures were identified by scanning electron microscopy, including details of the cuticular striations of the spicules in male worms and a protective flap of the cuticle covering the vulvar aperture in female worms. Other taxonomic features revealed by light microscopy include the gubernaculum and the esophageal-intestinal valve. The use of two microscopy techniques allowed a detailed characterization of the morphology of this nematode. A number of previously identified taxonomic features, such as the striated nature of the spicules and the lateral alae were confirmed; however, the use of scanning electron microscopy resulted in a reassessment of the correct number of papillae distributed around the oral opening and behind the cloacal opening. These observations, in combination with light microscopy-based characterization of the gubernaculum and esophageal valves, have allowed a more detailed description of this nematode taxonomy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rebello
authors.forename: Rubem F S
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Menna-Barreto
authors.forename: Vanessa A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Chagas-Moutinho
authors.forename: Ester M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perales
authors.forename: Ana Gisele C
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Neves-Ferreira
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Menezes
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lenzi
mesh_terms: D000801:Angiostrongylus / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
keywords: Angiostrongylus costaricensis; Light microscopy; Morphology; Scanning electron microscopy