Morphometric characteristics of the metacestode Echinococcus vogeli Rausch & Bernstein, 1972 in human infections from the northern region of Brazil.
Polycystic echinococcosis, caused by the larval stage (metacestode) of the small-sized tapeworm, Echinococcus vogeli, is an emerging parasitic zoonosis of great public health concern in the humid tropical rainforests of South and Central America. Because morphological and morphometric characteristics of the metacestode are not well known, hydatid cysts from the liver and the mesentery were examined from patients following surgical procedures. Whole mounts of protoscoleces with rostellar hooks were examined under light and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Measurements were made of both large and small hooks, including the total area, total length, total width, blade area, blade length, blade width, handle area, handle length and handle width. The results confirmed the 1:1 arrangement of hooks in the rostellar pad and indicated, for the first time, that the morphometry of large and small rostellar hooks varies depending upon the site of infection. Light and confocal microscopy images displayed clusters of calcareous corpuscles in the protoscoleces. In conclusion, morphological features of large and small rostellar hooks of E. vogeli are adapted to a varied environment within the vertebrate host and such morphological changes in calcareous corpuscles occur at different stages in the maturation of metacestodes.
Laboratory of Helminth Parasites of Vertebrates, Oswaldo Cruz Institute,Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos,21045-900,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.
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Almeida
Laboratory of Helminth Parasites of Vertebrates, Oswaldo Cruz Institute,Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos,21045-900,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.
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Oliveira
Laboratory of Helminthology Romero Lascasas Porto, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biomedical Centre, State University of Rio de Janeiro,Rua Prof. Manoel de Abreu 444/5 Floor, Vila Isabel,20511-070,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.
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Neves
Acre State Hospital Foundation and Federal University of Acre,Rodovia BR 364, s/n km 02, Distrito Industrial, Rio Branco,69914-220,Acre,Brazil.
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Siqueira
Laboratory of Helminth Parasites of Vertebrates, Oswaldo Cruz Institute,Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos,21045-900,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.
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Rodrigues-Silva
Laboratory of Helminth Parasites of Vertebrates, Oswaldo Cruz Institute,Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos,21045-900,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.
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Daipert-Garcia
Laboratory of Helminthology Romero Lascasas Porto, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biomedical Centre, State University of Rio de Janeiro,Rua Prof. Manoel de Abreu 444/5 Floor, Vila Isabel,20511-070,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.
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Machado-Silva
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult