title: Functional ultrastructure of eggs and cellular organization of hexacanths of the cyclophyllidean cestode Thysanotaenia congolensis: a phylogenetic implication of obtained results.
abstract: The functional ultrastructure of eggs and cellular organization of hexacanths from gravid proglottids of Thysanotaenia congolensis, from black rats from Cape Verde, were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Mature eggs with fully formed hexacanths are grouped within parenchymatous capsules of gravid proglottids. Oncospheral envelopes surrounding mature hexacanths are reduced to a very thin membranous embryophore as their protective function is taken over by the parenchymatous capsules originating from the medullary parenchyma of immature proglottids and composed of three layers. Six major cell types are present: a bi-nucleate medullary centre; a six-nucleate U-shaped penetration gland; a second type of penetration gland; two neurosecretory-type nerve cells; about 30 somatic cells; and about 12 germinative cells. Present results on the functional ultrastructure of eggs and cellular organization of hexacanths support the phylogenetic distinction between T. congolensis and cestodes of the subfamily Anoplocephalinae.
authors.affiliation: W. Stefański Institute of Parasitology,Polish Academy of Sciences,51/55 Twarda Street,00-818 Warszawa,Poland.
authors.forename: Zdzisław
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Świderski
authors.affiliation: Laboratori de Parasitologia,Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries,Facultat de Farmàcia,Universitat de Barcelona,Av. Joan XXIII,sn, 08028 Barcelona,Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miquel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and One Health Center,Berry College,Mount Berry,GA 30149,USA.
authors.forename: David Bruce
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Conn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055726:Cabo Verde; D002589:Cestoda / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010063:Ovum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats / Q000469:parasitology*; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: Thysanotaenia congolensis; cellular organization of hexacanth; functional ultrastructure of eggs; ultrastructural evidences for davaineid characters