title: Neomultitestis aspidogastriformis Bray and Cribb, 2003 (Digenea, Lepocreadiidae): mature spermatozoon and sperm morphologies in the Lepocreadioidea.
abstract: Spermatological characteristics are described for the first time in the genus Neomultitestis Machida, 1982, belonging to the family Lepocreadiidae Odhner, 1905. Adult Neomultitestis aspidogastriformis were collected from the digestive tract of Platax teira, caught off New Caledonia. The mature spermatozoon of N. aspidogastriformis is described by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It includes two axonemes with 9 + "1" pattern of Trepaxonemata, an antero-lateral electron-dense material, attachment zones, two mitochondria, a nucleus, two bundles of parallel cortical microtubules, external ornamentation of the plasma membrane, spine-like bodies, and granules of glycogen. Certain ultrastructural characteristics of the spermatozoon, especially the antero-lateral electron-dense material, are shared by N. aspidogastriformis and all species of the superfamily Lepocreadioidea studied so far. The antero-lateral electron-dense material, present in different families of lepocreadioids, supports the monophyletic status of the superfamily. We also list several ultrastructural characteristics which characterize the mature spermatozoon of the Lepocreadioidea.
authors: CNRS-University of Corsica, UMR 6134-SPE, SERME Service d'Étude et de Recherche en Microscopie Électronique, Corte, 20250, Corsica, France.|Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Management of Ecosystems, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, BP, 5055, Dakar, Senegal.
authors: Abdoulaye J S
authors: AJ
authors: Bakhoum
authors: CNRS-University of Corsica, UMR 6134-SPE, SERME Service d'Étude et de Recherche en Microscopie Électronique, Corte, 20250, Corsica, France.
authors: Yann
authors: Y
authors: Quilichini
authors: ISYEB, Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (UMR7205 CNRS, EPHE, MNHN, UPMC), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 51, 55 rue Buffon, 75231, Paris cedex 05, France.
authors: Jean-Lou
authors: JL
authors: Justine
authors: Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK.
authors: Rodney A
authors: RA
authors: Bray
authors: Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Management of Ecosystems, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, BP, 5055, Dakar, Senegal.
authors: Cheikh T
authors: CT
authors: Bâ
authors: CNRS-University of Corsica, UMR 6134-SPE, SERME Service d'Étude et de Recherche en Microscopie Électronique, Corte, 20250, Corsica, France.
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Marchand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014200:Trematoda / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D006003:Glycogen
keywords: Neomultitestis aspidogastriformis; Platyhelminthes; TEM; phylogeny; spermatozoon; ultrastructure