Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T07:37:27.092Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Some aspects of nutrition in Philophthalmus burrili (Trematoda: Digenea)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

M. J. Howell
M. J. Howell
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Australian National University, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The effects of P. burrili adults on the chicken host are outlined. There was no evidence that infections of up to 20 flukes caused marked pathological changes in the nictitating membrane to which flukes attach in an intimate 'placental' manner by the ventral sucker.

The food material of adult flukes is largely lacrimal secretion; it appears that blood can be excluded from the diet since the caecal contents are colourless and haemoglobin was not detected histochemically. Little material was detected in the caeca by the histochemical techniques used. The presence of a mucus coat around flukes was noted and it is suspected that materials of nutritional significance may be conserved in this coat for long periods. Glucose was demonstrated in the parenchyma surrounding the uterus. It is suggested that this might indicate either (a) polysaccharide degradation in this region; (b) polysaccharide synthesis; or (c) a site of accumulation of glucose which enters through the tegument and caeca. The presence of greatest activity in the uterine region may be indicative of nutritional dependence of the developing miracidium on the parent fluke.

The gastrodermis of the caeca is regular, consisting of flattened cells with a very prominent PAS positive, striated border of microvilli. The cytoplasm of the cells contains appreciable amounts of RNA. Protease, acid phosphatase and possibly esterase have been demonstrated in the gastrodermis.

Possible esterase activity occurs in the ventral sucker, alkaline phosphatase is present in the lining of the excretory ducts, and acid phosphatase has also been demonstrated in the pharynx, both suckers, and subcuticular region.

Ferritin was ingested by flukes in vivo and this enabled the digestion cycle to be followed. Flukes ingested little or no ferritin in vitro. Digestion was completed within 13 h and appeared to take place in close association with the striated border rather than in the lumen. The possibilities are that (a) material is digested intracellularly within the microvilli; (b) membrane (contact) digestion takes place; (c) extracellular digestion, in close association with the striated border, takes place. These processes are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

I should like to thank Professor J. D. Smyth for his helpful advice. This study was carried out during the tenure of an Australian National University Research Scholarship.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 62 , Issue 1 , February 1971 , pp. 133 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adams, C. W. M. & Tuqan, N. A. (1961). The histochemical demonstration of protease by a gelatin-silver film substrate. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 9, 469–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alicata, J. E. (1962). Life cycle and developmental stages of Philophthalmus gralli in the intermediate and final hosts. Journal of Parasitology 48, 47–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barry, D. H., Mawdesley-Thomas, L. E. & Malone, J. C. (1968). Enzyme histochemistry of the adult liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. Experimental Parasitology 23, 355–60.Google Scholar
Bogitsh, B. J. (1966 a). Histochemical observations on Posthodiplostomum minimum. II. Esterases in subcuticular cells, holdfast organ cells, and the nervous system. Experimental Parasitology 19, 64–70.Google Scholar
Bogitsh, B. J. (1966 b). Histochemical observations on Posthodiplostomum minimum. III. Alkaline phosphatase activity in metacercariae and adults. Experimental Parasitology 19, 339–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bogitsh, B. J., Davis, D. A. & Nunnally, D. A. (1968). Cytochemical and biochemical observations on the digestive tracts of digenetic trematodes. II. Ultrastructural localization of acid phosphatase in Haematoloechus medioplexus. Experimental Parasitology 23, 303–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burton, P. R. (1966). The ultrastructure of the integument of the frog bladder fluke, Gorgoderina sp. Journal of Parasitology 52, 926–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buša, V. (1962). Doterajšie poznatky o filoftalmōze vodnej hydiny. Veterinársky casopis 11, 276–81.Google Scholar
Buša, V. (1965). Niektoré poznatky vývinovom cykle trematóda Philophthalmus (Tubolecithalmus) hovorkai Buša, 1956. Veterinární medicina 38, 553–58.Google Scholar
Cain, G. D. (1969). Studies on hemoglobins in some digenetic trematodes. Journal of Parasitology 55, 301–6.Google Scholar
Cheng, T. C. & Snyder, R. W. (1963). Studies on host–parasite relationships between larval trematodes and their hosts. IV. A histochemical determination of glucose and its role in the metabolism of molluscan host and parasite. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 82, 343–6.Google Scholar
Davis, D. A., Bogitsh, B. J. & Nunnally, D. A. (1968). Cytochemical and biochemical observations on the digestive tracts of digenetic trematodes. I. Ultrastructure of Haematoloechus medioplexus gut. Experimental Parasitology 22, 96–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dawes, B. (1962). A histological study of the caecal epithelium of Fasciola hepatica L. Parasitology 52, 483–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dike, S. C. (1967). Ultrastructure of the caeca of the digenetic trematodes Gorgodera amplicava and Haematoloechus medioplexus. Journal of Parasitology 53, 1173–85.Google Scholar
Dike, S. C. (1969). Acid phosphatase activity and ferritin incorporation in the caeca of digenetic trematodes. Journal of Parasitology 55, 111–23.Google Scholar
Erasmus, D. A. (1967 a). Ultrastructural observations on the reserve bladder system of Cyathocotyle bushiensis Khan, 1962 (Trematoda: Strigeoidea) with special reference to lipid excretion. Journal of Parasitology 53, 525–36.Google Scholar
Erasmus, D. A. (1967 b). The host–parasite interface of Cyathocotyle bushiensis Khan, 1962 (Trematoda: Strigeoidea). II. Electron microscope studies of the tegument. Journal of Parasitology 53, 703–14.Google Scholar
Erasmus, D. A. & Öhman, C. (1963). The structure and function of the adhesive organ in strigeid trematodes. Annals of the New York Academy of Science 113, 7–35.Google Scholar
Erasmus, D. A. & Öhman, C. (1965). Electron microscope studies of the gland cells and host–parasite interface of the adhesive organ of Cyathocotyle bushiensis Khan, 1962. Journal of Parasitology 51, 761–9.Google Scholar
Fried, B. (1962). Growth of Philophthalmus sp. (Trematoda) in the eyes of chicks. Journal of Parasitology 48, 395–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fripp, P. J. (1966). Histochemical localization of β-glucuronidase in schistosomes. Experimental Parasitology 19, 254–63.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fripp, P. J. (1967 a). The histochemical localization of leucine aminopeptidase in Schistosoma rodhaini. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 20, 307–9.Google Scholar
Fripp, P. J. (1967 b). Histochemical localization of esterase activity in schistosomes. Experimental Parasitology 21, 380–90.Google Scholar
Gallagher, S. S. E. & Threadgold, L. T. (1967). Electron-microscope studies of Fasciola hepatica. II. The interrelationship of the parenchyma with other organ systems. Parasitology 57, 627–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibson, R. & Jennings, J. B. (1967). ‘Leucine aminopeptidase’ activity in the blood system of rhynchocoelan worms. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 23, 645–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Glenner, G. G., Burstone, M. S. & Meyer, D. B. (1959). A study of aminopeptidase activity in the stroma of neoplastic tissue with a comparison of histochemical techniques. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 23, 857–73.Google Scholar
Gresson, R. A. R. & Threadgold, L. T. (1959). A light and electron microscope study of the epithelial cells of the gut of Fasciola hepatica L. Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology 6, 157–62.Google Scholar
Halton, D. W. (1967 a). Studies on phosphatase activity in trematoda. Journal of Parasitology 53, 46–54.Google Scholar
Halton, D. W. (1967 b). Histochemical studies of carboxylic esterase activity in Fasciola hepatica. Journal of Parasitology 53, 1210–16.Google Scholar
Halton, D. W. (1967 c). Observations on the nutrition of digenetic trematodes. Parasitology 57, 639–60.Google Scholar
Halton, D. W. & Dermott, E. (1967). Electron microscopy of certain gland cells in two digenetic trematodes. Journal of Parasitology 53, 1186–91.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holt, S. J. & Withers, R. F. J. (1952). Cytochemical localization of esterases using indoxyl derivatives. Nature 170, 1012–14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Horne, M. K. & Darlington, J. T. (1967). Uptake and intracellular digestion of ferritin in the planarian Phagocata gracilis gracilis (Haldeman). Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 86, 268–73.Google Scholar
Howell, M. J. (1970). Ingestion in two species of digenetic trematodes. Journal of Parasitology (in the Press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howell, M. J. & Bearup, A. J. (1967). The life histories of two bird trematodes of the family Philophthalmidae. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 92, 182–94.Google Scholar
Jennings, J. B. (1963). Some aspects of nutrition in the Turbellaria, Trematoda, and Rhynchocoela. In The Lower Metazoa, Chapter 26. Eds. Dougherty, E. C., Brown, Z. N., Hanson, E. D. and Hartman, W. D.. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Lee, D. L. (1962). Studies on the function of the pseudosuckers and holdfast organ of Diplostomum phoxini Faust (Strigeida, Trematoda). Parasitology 52, 103–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marković, A. (1939). Der erste Fall von Philophthalmose beim Menschen. Albrecht v. Graefes Archiv für Ophthalmologie 140, 515–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marković, A. & Garzićić, S. (1939). Über Philophthalmus lacrymosus Braun. Zoologischer Anzeiger 127, 267–70.Google Scholar
Mowry, R. W. (1963). The special value of methods that colour both acidic and vicinal hydroxyl groups in the histochemical study of mucins. With revised directions for the colloidal iron stain, the use of Alcian blue G 8 X and their combinations with the periodic acid-Schiff reaction. Annals of the New York Academy of Science 106, 402–23.Google Scholar
Müller, W. (1923). Die Nahrung von Fasciola hepatica und ihre Verdauung. Zoologischer Anzeiger 57, 273–81.Google Scholar
Öhman, C. (1965). The structure and function of the adhesive organ in strigeid trematodes. II. Diplostomum spathaceum Braun, 1893. Parasitology 55, 481–502.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Öhman, C. (1966 a). The structure and function of the adhesive organ in strigeid trematodes. III. Apatemon gracilis minor Yamaguti, 1933. Parasitology 56, 209–26.Google Scholar
Öhman, C. (1966 b). The structure and function of the adhesive organ in strigeid trematodes. IV. Holostephanus lühei Szidat, 1936. Parasitology 56, 481–91.Google Scholar
Pearse, A. G. E. (1961). Histochemistry: Theoretical and Applied, 998 pp., 2nd ed.London: J. and A. Churchill Ltd.Google Scholar
Penner, L. R. & Fried, B. (1963). Philophthalmus hegeneri sp.n., an ocular trematode from birds. Journal of Parasitology 49, 974–7.Google Scholar
Reznik, G. K. (1963). [Comparative histological and histochemical study of the intestine of Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium lanceatum.] Trudy Vsesoyuznogo instituta gelmintologii 10, 238–44. (In Russian.)Google Scholar
Rothman, A. H. (1968). Enzyme localization and colloid transport in Haematoloechus medioplexus. Journal of Parasitology 54, 286–94.Google Scholar
Senft, A. W., Philpott, D. E. & Pelofsky, A. H. (1961). Electron microscope observations of the integument, flame cells and gut of Schistosoma mansoni. Journal of Parasitology 47, 217–29.Google Scholar
Smyth, J. D. (1966). The Physiology of Trematodes, 256 pp. University Reviews in Biology, 7. Edinburgh and London: Oliver and Boyd.Google Scholar
Smyth, J. D., Miller, H. J. & Howkins, A. B. (1967). Further analysis of the factors controlling strobilization, differentiation, and maturation of Echinococcus granulosus in vitro. Experimental Parasitology 21, 31–41.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thorpe, E. (1968). Comparative enzyme histochemistry of immature and mature stages of Fasciola hepatica. Experimental Parasitology 22, 150–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thorsell, W. & Björkman, N. (1965). Morphological and biochemical studies on absorption and secretion in the alimentary tract of Fasciola hepatica L. Journal of Parasitology 51, 217–23.Google Scholar
Threadgold, L. T. (1967). Electron-microscope studies of Fasciola hepatica. III. Further observations on the tegument and associated structures. Parasitology 57, 633–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Threadgold, L. T. (1968). Electron microscope studies of Fasciola hepatica. VI. The ultrastructural localization of phosphatase. Experimental Parasitology 23, 264–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Threadgold, L. T. & Gallagher, S. S. E. (1966). Electron microscope studies of Fasciola hepatica. I. The ultrastructure and interrelationship of the parenchymal cells. Parasitology 56, 299–304.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Threadgold, L. T. & Read, C. P. (1968). Electron microscopy of Fasciola hepatica. V. Peroxidase localization. Experimental Parasitology 23, 221–7.Google Scholar
Ugolev, A. M. (1965). Membrane (contact) digestion. Physiological Reviews 45, 555–95.Google Scholar
West, A. F. (1961). Studies on the biology of Philophthalmus gralli Mathis & Leger, 1910 (Trematoda:Digenea). American Midland Naturalist 66, 363–83.Google Scholar