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Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of the Eggs of the Warthog Louse (Haematopinus Phacochoeri)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2020

C. Baker  and
E.D. Green
C. Baker
Affiliation:
Electron Microscope Unit and Medical University of Southern Africa, P O Box 84, MEDUNSA, 0204South Africa.
E.D. Green
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Medical University of Southern Africa, P O Box 84, MEDUNSA, 0204South Africa.
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Extract

The large eggs of Haematopinus phacochoeri are found attached to the long dorsal mane bristles of the diurnal warthog. The eggs are generally exposed to great environmental stresses such as excessive sunlight and temperature as well as the occasional plunge under water or mud during grooming. This investigation was therefore undertaken to determine how the eggs of H. phococoeri are adapted to tolerate the various environmental changes it is constantly exposed to. To our knowledge no other SEM study on the eggs of this species has been performed.

Specimens still attached to the bristles were fixed in 70% ethanol, dehydrated and ultrasonically cleaned. Some eggs were longitudinally sectioned with a razor blade to expose the chorionic layers. The eggs were critical point dried in liquid CO2, mounted and viewed by means of a Leica Stereoscan 420 scanning electron microscope.

The general structure of the shell consists of two layers of chorion, i.e. the endo-and exochorion. These two layers are attached at the pre-formed line of weakness at the operculum and again near the hydropyle. Elsewhere these two layers are completely separated by the respiratory layer.

Type
Non-Vertebrate Biology
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 3 , Issue S2: Proceedings: Microscopy & Microanalysis '97, Microscopy Society of America 55th Annual Meeting, Microbeam Analysis Society 31st Annual Meeting, Histochemical Society 48th Annual Meeting, Cleveland, Ohio, August 10-14, 1997 , August 1997 , pp. 113 - 114
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 1997

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